Local officials in Afghanistan say Taliban fighters have killed journalists, kidnapped an Afghan radio station manager in Kabul and abducted a journalist from Helmand province.

According to the British news agency Reuters, a gunman shot and killed Toofan Omar, the station manager of Paktia Ghag radio and an officer of the pro-Afghan independent media group NAI, on Sunday.

“Omari was killed by unidentified gunmen…he was a liberal man…we are being targeted for working independently,” said Mujeeb Khelwatgar, the head of NAI.

Authorities suspect the attack was carried out by Taliban fighters.

Last month, the NAI reported that extremist groups in Afghanistan had killed, injured and abducted at least 30 journalists and members of the media this year.

According to officials in Helmand Province, Taliban fighters abducted local journalist Nematullah Hemat from his home in Lashkar Gah on Sunday.

Nematullah was linked to the private TV channel Gharghasht TV, said Razwan Miakhel, head of the channel.

Last Sunday, the Taliban tightened its grip on northern Afghanistan, capturing three provincial capitals.

Security sources and local residents confirmed that the Taliban had captured Kunduz, Sar-e-Pul and Taloqan within hours.

Zabihullah Hamidi, a resident of Taloqan, told AFP by telephone that he had seen security forces and officials leaving the city in a convoy of vehicles.
A Kunduz resident said the city was in “complete chaos”.

The Taliban said in a statement on Sunday that “after heavy fighting, the Mujahideen have, by the grace of Allah, captured the capital, Kunduz.”

The Mujahideen have also seized the bridge, government buildings and all installations there.

The Taliban said in a statement on Twitter on Sunday evening that they had also captured Taloqan.