KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The Taliban has released Javid Niazi, owner and publisher of Paigard News Agency, after nearly two months in detention, the Afghanistan Journalists Support Organization (AMSO) said on Monday.
In a statement, AMSO said, citing one of Niazi’s colleagues, that he was released on Monday from Directorate 40 of the Taliban General Directorate of Intelligence and reunited with his family in Kabul.
Mr. Niazi was detained after being summoned by Taliban intelligence forces nearly two months ago. The reason for his detention remains unclear, and the Taliban has not commented on the case.
AMSO welcomed Niazi’s release but described his arrest, prosecution, and imprisonment as a violation of human rights and press freedom principles.
The group voiced concern over continued arrests, threats, and restrictions on journalists in Afghanistan and called on the Taliban to unconditionally release all detained media workers and respect international human rights standards.
The United Nations mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), the Afghanistan Journalist Center (AFJC), and Amnesty International had previously expressed concern over Niazi’s detention and urged his immediate release.
Afghanistan’s media environment has sharply deteriorated since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021. Journalists have reported facing arrests, censorship, interrogations, threats, and pressure over their reporting or alleged ties to exiled media outlets.
According to the AFJC, the Taliban have arrested or detained at least 300 journalists and media staff since 2021, with at least six still in custody. In Reporters Without Borders’ 2026 World Press Freedom Index, Afghanistan ranked 175th out of 180 countries.
