Ajmal Naqshbandi

The photojournalism world is outraged and in deep mourning following the murder of Ajmal Naqshbandi by the Taleban in Afghanistan. He was killed by a Taleban group who claimed that the Afghan government had refused to meet its demands to release senior figures from prison. Ajmal was the local journalist, guide, translator and fixer for the Italian reporter Daniele Mastrogiacomo who was released after 5 Taleban members were freed in exchange. Their Afghan driver was beheaded last month.

The BBC correspondent in Kabul reports that there is outrage in Afghanistan that the government would bow to the Taleban's demands, and that it saved a foreigner but not an Afghan.

International efforts, including from photojournalism organizations, were exerted to free Mr Naqshabandi, but to no avail.

I had written a post titled POV: Fixers on the day of Mastrogiacomo's release, and expressed my opinion that local fixers were not accorded the care, attention and recognition that international photographers receive. It is perhaps worth revisiting.

A prominent photojournalist, Gary Knight, wrote that photojournalists are responsible for the well being of the people they hire to help.

There'll be no other posts on TTP today.

Posted in: Events