Reuters´s photo-journalist killed in battle in Afghanistan

A foreign photo-journalist was killed during clashes between Afghan government security forces and Taliban militants in restive southern province of Kandahar early Friday, a provincial government spokesman confirmed, reported Xinhua.

"Danish Siddiqui, an Indian photographer of the Reuters news agency was killed in Spin Boldak bordering district Friday morning," spokesman Baher Ahmadi told Xinhua.

The Afghan government security forces launched an operation early Friday to retake control of Spin Boldak bordering Pakistan, which was captured by Taliban militants on Wednesday.

An Afghan security source told Xinhua that Siddiqui was travelling with Afghan commandos as he was embedded as a photographer to cover the operation.

When the security forces arrived at the main traffic square of the district after evicting Taliban militants, gunmen ambushed the security forces, killing Siddiqui and a senior Afghan security officer, he said.

Further details about the incident are still forthcoming amid the absence of any official statement, the source said.

"Deeply saddened to hear the death of Danish Siddiqui, Chief Photographer for Reuters & a Pulitzer Prize winner, while covering the war in Kandahar. I express my condolences to his family, Reuters & the media. May his soul rest in peace," Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation (HCNR) of Afghanistan Abdullah Abdullah wrote on twitter.

Providing security and safety for journalists has been a main responsibility of Afghan security forces, he said, adding the Afghan security forces must do their best to protect journalists and provide them a safe environment to do their media activities.