SECURITY — May 10, 2026
Two ToloNews Journalists Detained by Taliban in Kabul
Two ToloNews journalists, Mansoor Niazi and Imran Danish, were detained by the Taliban in Kabul last Thursday for unknown reasons.
The Ehtebar Desk — originates with Khaama Press — corroborated by Amu TV — 2 min read
Two Pashto-language presenters from ToloNews, Mansoor Niazi and Imran Danish, were detained by the Taliban in Kabul last Thursday. ToloNews has officially confirmed the detentions of its staff members.
Mansoor Niazi was reportedly taken into custody from the Karte Chahar area, located in District 3 of Kabul. The specific reasons for the detentions of both Niazi and Danish have not been shared or remain unclear.
The detentions of the ToloNews staff coincided with the arrest of another media professional. Ahmad Javid Niazi, the head of the Pegard News Agency, was arrested last Thursday at his office in Kabul.
These incidents contribute to a broader trend of journalist detentions and the closure of numerous media outlets across Afghanistan. Reports from media support organizations and Reporters Without Borders highlight a critical decline in press freedom and the safety of media workers.
The current environment for journalism in the country is reflected in the World Press Freedom Index, where Afghanistan is currently ranked 175th out of 180 countries. These recent detentions have sparked renewed concerns regarding the safety of journalists and the ability of the press to operate under the current administration.
Read the original reporting at Khaama Press →
Reliability assessment
The core event (the detention of two ToloNews journalists) is corroborated by two independent sources and officially confirmed by the employer (ToloNews).
The source language mixes facts with framing or advocacy wording. Amu TV: "severe concerns" and "critical level" are used to frame the situation as an urgent crisis rather than just reporting the arrests.
Independent web corroboration
A separate web search returned 8 matching reports. A selection:
According to sources Mansoor Niazi, one of the network’s journalists, disappeared last Thursday from Kabul’s District 3. Family members later confirmed that he had been taken into custody. Another TOLOnews journalist, Imran Danish, was also ...
Across the newsrooms
Where reports agree
- Two ToloNews journalists (Mansoor Niazi and Imran Danesh/Danish) were detained in Kabul.
- The detentions took place last Thursday.
- ToloNews has officially confirmed the incident.
- The specific reasons for the detentions have not been made public.
Where reports differ
- Terminology of the event: Amu TV refers to them as 'arrested,' while Khaama Press notes that ToloNews revised its statement from 'arrested' to 'detained'.
Filed by 2 outlets
Khaama Press
Originating
Reported straight
Reported straight
Amu TV
Framed
Framed
Filed under
Security — ToloNews, Taliban, Press Freedom, Kabul, Mansoor Niazi
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