The Taliban isn’t just targeting American soldiers. It is now taking on the Pakistani media that is critical of it according to American Journalism Review.
Pakistani journalists and the Taliban have been enemies for a long time, but much of it has come to a head in recent months. Taliban forces are not hesitating kidnap and kill these journalists that are deemed “anti-Islam.”
One journalist already gone
Musa Khan Khel, 28, was assassinated in February of 2009. He was a reporter for the English-Language Newspaper and a reporter for Geo Television.
Khel was last seen heading towarding a Taliban stronghold in the fiercely combated region of Swat Valley for an interview.
He never returned. He was found with 32 bullets in his body.
This wasn’t the first attack on Khel however. A few months before Pakistani Military personnel beat him because they didn’t like the way that he was reporting on them.
Media sought out
Amir Nawab Khan, a camera man and reported for APTN and and Khyber TV was shot while riding in a van with collegues. A group called Soldiers of Islam was responsible for the shooting. They have also been know for killing many others that they call “infidels” to the Muslim faith.
Another veteran reporter, Raja Assad Hameed was gunned down while answering his door one night.
How bad is it?
• Eight journalists killed in 2008
• Four killed in 2009
• Others have been beaten or assaulted
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