New Delhi

Indian photojournalist Danish Siddiqui of Reuters was killed during clashes between Afghan Forces and the Taliban fighters over control of Spin Boldak district in Kandahar bordering Pakistan Thursday night.

Afghan news agency TOLO News confirmed his death.

In Delhi, the father of Dansh, Prof Akhtar Siddiqui, said he had received the news about his on's death two hours ago. He said his son was very happy working in Afghanistan and they had spoken on mobile two days ago.

Danish Siddiqui was an embedded journalist with Afghan forces and he had mapped the fighting over past few days.

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Afghanistan's ambassador to India Mamudzay has mourned his death. He wrote on Twitter:

Deeply disturbed by the sad news of the killing of a friend, Danish Seddiqi in Kandahar last night. The Indian Journalist & winner of Pulitzer Prize was embedded with Afghan security forces. I met him 2 weeks ago before his departure to Kabul. Condolences to his family & Reuters. pic.twitter.com/sGlsKHHein

— Farid Mamundzay फरीद मामुन्दजई فرید ماموندزی (@FMamundzay) July 16, 2021

His last story to Reuter was about the rescue of an Afghan policeman Ahmed Shah who fought for 18- hours against Taliban.

In his early forties, the Mumbai based-Siddiqui had received the Pulitzer Prize for his work with Reuters.

Danish Siddiqui taking a break during his work in Afghanistan

Head of TOLO News Lotfullah Najafizada shared his memories of the Indian journalist. He wrote on Twitter:

So tragic to hear that my Indian friend, Pulitzer Prize winner journalist Danish Seddiqi got killed in Kandahar last night. He was embedded with Afghan forces. We met last week and he was telling me about his kids, family and his work from covering Rohingya to pandemic in India.

— Lotfullah Najafizada (@LNajafizada) July 16, 2021

Danish has graduated with a degree in Economics from Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi. He had a degree in Mass Communication from the AJK Mass Communication Research Centre at Jamia in 2007.

He started his career as a television news correspondent, switched to photojournalism, and joined Reuters as an intern in 2010.

He died as the Taliban captured Spin Boldak district in Kandahar this week and the government forces are trying to wrest it from its control.

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Fierce fighting has been underway in Kandahar, especially in Spin Boldak, for the last few days.

His last story for Reuters was an operation of the Afghan forces for rescuing Ahmed Shah, a policeman who fought for 18 hours against the Taliban, he posted videos showing dangers he faced during the coverage.

The Humvee in which I was travelling with other special forces was also targeted by at least 3 RPG rounds and other weapons. I was lucky to be safe and capture the visual of one of the rockets hitting the armour plate overhead. pic.twitter.com/wipJmmtupp

— Danish Siddiqui (@dansiddiqui) July 13, 2021

His death has been widely mourned in Afghanistan and India.