Local sources in Balkh report that three journalists have been arrested by Taliban intelligence forces while reporting on a fire incident in the province.
According to the sources cited by Hasht-e Subh, the journalists were detained on Monday, July 31, in Mazar-e-Sharif, the center of Balkh province.
The detained journalists are identified as Najib Faryad, a journalist from Ariana News, Hatef Aryan and Sebghatullah Turan, local journalists.
As of now, local Taliban officials in Balkh have not provided any official statement regarding the matter.
The ongoing fire incident in Mazar-e-Sharif – Balkh district highway has caused significant financial damages to the people, according to eyewitnesses.
Since regaining control of Afghanistan, the Taliban have been severely interfering with the media and journalists, occasionally resorting to arrests, beatings, and imprisonment.
This incident follows the detention of a local journalist in Nangarhar by the Taliban last month.
