Pakistani journalist says ‘physically assaulted’ during Taliban detention in Kabul

Anas Mallick says his producer, driver released by Taliban authorities after being held under detention for 42 hours

KABUL:

Pakistani journalist Anas Mallick revealed on Saturday that he was "physically assaulted" during his 21-hour detention by the Taliban in Kabul.

In a tweet, the journalist also revealed that his producer and driver were released by Taliban authorities after being detained for 42 hours.

Update: My driver & Local Producer in Afghanistan have now also been released by Taliban authorities after keeping them under detention for 42hours. I was released yesterday after 21hours of detention by Taliban authorities. I am back and safe now - Thank you for all your prayers https://t.co/9PhUWfQL79

— Anas Mallick (@AnasMallick) August 6, 2022

Mallick and his crew went missing in Kabul on Thursday afternoon but the journalist himself safely returned on Friday after being confined by the Taliban.

As per his tweet of August 3, they were in the Afghan capital to cover the first anniversary of the fall of Kabul.

A social media post by the news organisation Mallick works for shared images of bruises on the bodies of its crew members.

Read FO confirms safe return of Pakistani journalist missing in Kabul

In a video report, Mallick stated that he and his crew “were intercepted, taken out of the car — dragged out of the car to be precise — our phones were taken away, and then we were physically assaulted".

He maintained that his crew was also assaulted.

“After a while, we were shifted from the place where we were intercepted to what we know was the GDI, or the Grand Directory of Intelligence, the GDI unit of the Afghan Taliban,” he said, adding that they were questioned thoroughly about their work as well as personal matters.

Mallick was “dropped off” by Afghan personnel at 10:10am on Friday. However, his press credentials, accreditation and permit letter were not returned to him.

The Taliban also held Mallick’s crew back.

Working as the Pakistan bureau chief of Wion News in Islamabad, Anas Mallick covers foreign affairs, Pak-Afghan matters, military and conflict.

A day earlier, the Foreign Office (FO) had confirmed that Mallick who had gone missing in Kabul a day earlier had safely returned to the city.

“So glad that Anas Mallick is safely back in Kabul. Alhamdolillah,” the FO said in a tweet in response to its earlier post about his disappearance

The news of his return was also confirmed by Pakistan's ambassador to Afghanistan, Mansoor Khan.