Taliban IEA Confirms Detention of Two TOLO News Journalists — CPJ Calls for Immediate Release

May 13, 2026 (Day 77 of Operation Ghazab lil-Haq): Afghan Taliban Islamic Emirate authorities officially confirmed the detention of two TOLO News journalists: presenter Mansoor Niazi, arrested May 7, and political editor Imran Danish, arrested near the network's Kabul offices on May 9. IEA Ministry spokesman Khobaib Ghofran stated the case was 'under investigation' with no court ruling yet issued. Following the arrests, Taliban security forces besieged the TOLO News building in Kabul. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and the Afghanistan Media Support Organisation issued statements on May 13 demanding the 'immediate and unconditional release' of both journalists and calling on the Taliban to respect press freedom. Afghanistan International separately reported that the Taliban intend to put the two journalists on trial. TOLO News is Afghanistan's largest and most-watched private television network, operating continuously since 2004. It has remained the dominant source of news for Afghans throughout the Taliban takeover. The network operates under severe Taliban editorial constraints but has continued functioning — making these arrests, and especially the siege of its offices, an escalation in the Taliban's posture toward the remaining independent media in Afghanistan. The detentions represent the most significant direct action by the Taliban against TOLO News since the 2021 takeover. Pakistan-linked context: TOLO News has provided independent coverage of the 2026 Af-Pak conflict, including civilian casualty reports from Pakistan's strikes — a politically sensitive topic for the Taliban IEA, which controls the framing of the conflict domestically. Whether the arrests are connected to TOLO's conflict coverage or relate to separate editorial or personal disputes is not confirmed by available reporting as of May 13. The CPJ records 58 journalists killed in Afghanistan since 2001. These arrests add to a pattern of Taliban restrictions on the press, including arbitrary detentions of journalists who cover protests, human rights, and conflict-related content.