Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani calls father of Danish Siddiqui to extend condolences

New Delhi: As a mark of respect and homage, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Thursday (July 22) called the father of the slain Pulitzer winner Indian journalist Danish Siddiqui. During the phone conversation, he extended condolences to him.

The readout from the Afghan Presidential palace said, “President Ashraf Ghani in a phone call today, extended his deep condolence to father of Danish Siddiqui, the Reuters Agency's Indian photojournalist who was recently killed during Taliban Attack in Spin Boldak district of Kandahar”, adding, “The late journalist's father expressed gratitude to President Ghani for his condolence.”

Earlier, the Afghan foreign ministry was quick to extend its condolences on Siddiqui’s death and reaffirmed the country's commitment to freedom of expression.

Siddiqui’s mortal remains were brought back to India on Sunday and he was buried in his alma mater Jamia Millia Islamia.

India had raised the killing of the journalist at the United Nations Security Council. India's Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla said, “We condemn the killing of Indian Photo Journalist Danish Siddiqui while he was on a reporting assignment in Kandahar in Afghanistan yesterday. I extend our sincerest condolences to his bereaved family.”

Indian Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur, media bodies like Foreign Correspondents Club (FCC) of South Asia, and the Press Club of India (PCI) also paid homage to the Pulitzer Prize winner Siddiqui.