Nai in Exile, an organisation supporting Afghan journalists and media outlets, has called on the United Nations and the European Union to intervene for the immediate release of journalists recently detained by the Taliban.
In a statement, the organisation expressed concern over the arrests of Afghan journalists, Mansoor Niazi, Imran Danish and Javid Niazi.
The group urged United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and the EU delegation in Kabul to engage with Taliban authorities and secure the journalists’ immediate and unconditional release.
Nai in Exile described the detention of journalists as a “repeated practice” under Taliban rule and said that since the group returned to power nearly five years ago, around 400 journalists and media workers had been imprisoned, with at least six still in detention.
The organisation added that, on average, the Taliban arrest at least three journalists or media workers every two weeks.
Taliban authorities had not issued any official statement regarding the arrests or the allegations against the journalists at the time of publication.
Earlier, sources told Afghanistan International that Mansoor Niazi had been detained in Kabul’s Karte Char area and taken to an unknown location. TOLOnews has also confirmed the detention of its two journalists.
According to the 2026 World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders, Afghanistan ranked 175th out of 180 countries, falling 53 places over the past five years.
Ubaid-ur-Rehman Nizamani, Pakistan's ambassador to Kabul, urged the Taliban to take practical measures against terrorist threats originating from Afghanistan.
Speaking at an event marking the first anniversary of the four-day conflict between Pakistan and India, the Pakistani diplomat warned the Taliban not to interpret Islamabad’s desire for peace as a sign of weakness.
According to a statement issued by the Pakistani embassy in Kabul on Sunday, Nizamani said Pakistan remains committed to brotherly relations with Afghanistan, but added that concrete action was needed to curb threats emanating from Afghan territory.
Hours earlier, Asim Munir said in a speech in Rawalpindi that terrorism from Afghanistan continued and that the Taliban must dismantle terrorist sanctuaries.
He also accused India of returning to its previous policy of supporting militancy after what he described as failure on the battlefield, adding that security threats persisted not only from India but also from Afghan soil.
Taliban officials have not yet responded to the remarks. The Taliban administration has repeatedly claimed that Afghan territory is not being used against any country.
Informed sources told Afghanistan International that Taliban intelligence forces besieged the offices of TOLOnews and its parent company, Moby Group, for more than six hours after the broadcaster reported the detention of two of its journalists on social media.
According to the sources, around 50 armed Taliban intelligence personnel were deployed around the company’s headquarters in the Wazir Akbar Khan area of Kabul.
TOLOnews published reports on its social media accounts at around 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 11, stating that two of its journalists had been detained by the Taliban.
Sources said that approximately 40 minutes after the reports were published, a large number of armed Taliban intelligence personnel raided the Moby Group offices.
TOLOnews initially used the word “detained” in its reporting, but later deleted the post and replaced the term with “held”.
According to reports, Mansoor Niazi, a news presenter and host of political programmes on TOLOnews, was detained by Taliban intelligence agents on Thursday in Kabul’s Karte Seh area.
Imran Danish, another presenter and head of the network’s political section, was reportedly detained on Saturday evening near the TOLOnews office in Wazir Akbar Khan.
Sources familiar with the matter, speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons, said Taliban intelligence agents took control of Niazi’s X account after his detention.
On Sunday morning, a message was posted on the account stating: “What is being said about me on social media is not true. I am at my home.”
One informed source said Taliban intelligence agents confiscated the mobile phones of all employees working for TOLOnews, TOLO TV, Lemar TV, Arman FM, Arakozia FM and the Lapis office during the siege.
The source added that all employees of the media organisation were placed under surveillance.
According to the sources, Taliban personnel mistreated several staff members during the operation, physically assaulting some employees and behaving violently towards women.
Taliban intelligence agents reportedly allowed female employees to leave at around 7 p.m., while male staff remained under supervision for an additional hour.
Sources also said Imran Danish was brought to the TOLOnews office by Taliban intelligence personnel during the siege. After searches and inspections were completed, he was reportedly taken away again.
Neither Moby Group, TOLOnews nor Taliban officials have publicly commented on the reasons behind the raid.
The social media activity of Moby Group and TOLOnews resumed at around 8 p.m. on Sunday evening. A review of TOLOnews’ X account showed that, contrary to its normal activity, no content was posted for approximately nine hours.
Earlier, Taliban intelligence agents also detained Ahmad Jawed Niazi, the head of Paigard News Agency, on Thursday. No information has yet been released about his whereabouts or condition.
Afghanistan Journalists Support Organisation confirmed the detention of the TOLOnews journalists on Sunday, saying that no private media outlet in Afghanistan, including those perceived as showing “flexibility” towards the Taliban, is safe from arbitrary harassment and detention.
Recently, Faridullah Mohammadi, director of TOLOnews said at a meeting in the Taliban presidential palace that the “relative freedom” of the media in Afghanistan was unprecedented in the region.
Since returning to power, the Taliban have detained, tortured, threatened and imprisoned dozens of journalists.
Media rights organisations and journalist advocacy groups have repeatedly expressed concern over the deteriorating state of press freedom and freedom of expression in Afghanistan under Taliban rule.
According to reports, at least five journalists have remained in Taliban prisons over the past year. They include Hamid Farhadi, Aziz Watanwal, Shakib Ahmad Nazari, Mohammad Bashir Hatef and Abuzar Sarem Sarpoli.
Findings by Afghanistan International indicate that at least two of the detained journalists have been transferred to Bagram Prison.
Taliban police in Badakhshan confirmed that at least two residents of Argo district were killed in clashes with Taliban forces during anti-poppy eradication operations.
The Taliban police command in Badakhshan said on Saturday that the clashes began after anti-narcotics units were deployed to a village in Argo district to destroy poppy fields.
In a statement, the Taliban police spokesperson said a number of farmers and residents, allegedly incited by criminals and drug traffickers, attempted to prevent the destruction of poppy crops.
He said one child was killed on Friday during the unrest, while another person died on Saturday, May 9, during continuing protests and clashes.
The Taliban police command claimed the situation is now under control and the area remains under Taliban authority.
However, local sources told Afghanistan International on Saturday that clashes between Taliban forces and residents of Argo district were still ongoing.
Residents said both victims were killed by Taliban gunfire.
A video obtained by Afghanistan International from Argo district shows continuing protests by local residents against the Taliban.
The Taliban police command also acknowledged that protesters temporarily blocked the Kishim –Faizabad highway, which was later reopened through the efforts of security officials, religious scholars and tribal elders.
According to local information, the clashes began on Friday, May 8, when Taliban forces entered the village to destroy poppy fields.
In recent days, the Taliban governor of Badakhshan and his deputy had visited several districts and urged residents to cooperate with anti-poppy campaigns.
Earlier reports said the Taliban had deployed at least 1,500 forces to Kishim district for similar operations.
This is not the first time residents of Argo have resisted poppy eradication due to the absence of alternative crops and livelihoods.
In previous years, similar confrontations during the poppy harvest season resulted in deadly clashes between residents and Taliban forces.
The Taliban leader banned poppy cultivation in 2022, but multiple reports suggest opium cultivation continues, particularly in northern and southern provinces.
Farmers say the lack of viable alternative crops, unreliable markets and insufficient financial and technical support have forced them to continue growing poppies because they have no other source of income for their families.
Hamid Karzai, former Afghan President, said Pakistan has increased military and economic pressure on villages near the Durand Line, warning residents are being pushed to deal with Pakistani authorities.
In a statement on Saturday, Karzai said tribal elders on both sides of the border had recently signed documents described as peace agreements. He noted that Pakistan’s foreign ministry had officially welcomed and endorsed the deals.
The former president said these developments are viewed as an attempt by Pakistan to legitimise the so-called Durand Line and as a move contrary to Afghanistan’s national sovereignty.
Without directly naming the Taliban, he called on authorities to provide clear explanations to the public regarding these developments.
Earlier, Pakistan’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Tahir Andrabi welcomed ceasefire agreements reached by tribal elders on both sides of the border in Kunar and Nuristan, saying they reflected the desire of border communities for peace.
Speaking on Thursday, May 7, Andrabi described the agreements between elders in Bajaur–Kunar and Chitral–Nuristan as positive developments showing that people on both sides wanted peace.
In mid-April, tribal elders in Nuristan approached Pakistani border forces in Chitral after roads to Kamdesh and Barg-e Matal districts remained closed for two months, raising fears of famine and hunger. Their efforts resulted in ceasefire agreements across the border.
Elders in border areas of Kunar later followed the Nuristan example and reached similar ceasefire arrangements with tribal leaders in Bajaur across the border.
Taliban authorities have not yet commented on the signing of the peace agreements in border regions.
Residents reported unidentified aircraft flying over Kabul on Saturday, along with Taliban gunfire. At least three independent sources told Afghanistan International that repeated shooting was heard across parts of the capital.
Taliban authorities have not yet issued any explanation.
One source in western Kabul said the sound of continuous gunfire was heard while the aircraft were patrolling overhead.
At least three independent sources in Kabul told Afghanistan International on Saturday that unidentified aircraft and repeated gunfire were heard in several parts of the city.
In previous similar incidents, the Taliban Defence Ministry and spokespersons said the gunfire came from air defence forces targeting Pakistani aircraft that had entered Afghan airspace.
Zabihullah Mujahid and other Taliban officials have repeatedly told residents “not to worry”.
No details are yet available about the aircraft activity on Saturday.
Afghanistan International says it is following the story and will publish any official explanation or new details as they emerge.
