Indian photojournalist Danish Siddiqui killed in Kandahar

New Delhi: Indian photojournalist Danish Siddiqui, a Pulitzer Prize winner, was killed in Kandahar province in Afghanistan while on an assignment embedded with Afghan security forces, Afghan ambassador Farid Mamundzay said on Friday.

“Deeply disturbed by the sad news of the killing of a friend, Danish Siddiqui in Kandahar last night. The Indian Journalist & winner of the Pulitzer Prize was embedded with Afghan security forces. I met him two weeks ago before his departure to Kabul. Condolences to his family & Reuters,” Mamundzay tweeted.

In response to media queries regarding photojournalist,Siddiqui, MEA spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi said: “Our Ambassador in Kabul is in touch with Afghan authorities. We are keeping his family informed of the developments.”

It was reported that Siddiqui was killed in Spin Boldak district of Kandahar. One Sediq Karzai, an Afghan special forces commander in Kandahar, was also killed in the same incident.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur has condoled the death of Siddiqui.

“Danish Siddiqui leaves behind an extraordinary body of work. He won the Pulitzer Prize for Photography and was embedded with the Afghan Forces in Kandahar. Sincere condolences. RIP,” tweeted Mr Thakur and also shared one of the unique snaps shot by Siddiqui.