Day 91 of Op Ghazab — Taliban Releases TOLOnews Journalists Mansoor Niazi and Imran Danish on Bail; Trial After Eid; Jawid Niazi Remains in Detention

May 27, 2026 (Day 91 of Operation Ghazab lil-Haq): Taliban authorities released TOLO News presenter Mansoor Niazi (Day 20 in detention) and TOLO News political editor Imran Danish (Day 18 in detention) on bail. Both journalists were freed on the condition that they appear before Taliban courts after Eid al-Adha for their trial. Paigard News Agency director Jawid (Ahmad Jawed) Niazi — arrested three days before the TOLO News journalists, on May 6 — remained in Taliban General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI) custody on Day 21 with no release announcement. DETENTION TIMELINE AND RELEASE TERMS: Mansoor Niazi was arrested May 7; Imran Danish was arrested May 9, reportedly near the TOLO News office in the Wazir Akbar Khan neighborhood of Kabul. The Taliban confirmed their detention and announced intent to put them on trial. Their release on bail on Day 20 and Day 18 respectively came after sustained international pressure from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Amnesty International, UNAMA, and the European Union. Bail conditions mean neither journalist is free to leave Afghanistan, and both face pending criminal charges — the specific charges have not been publicly announced as of May 27. JAWID NIAZI'S CONTINUED DETENTION: Paigard News Agency director Jawid Niazi, who is the head of an independent news agency that was detained May 6, remained in Taliban GDI custody with no charges announced and no bail granted. His case appears to be treated as more serious by Taliban intelligence authorities. Paigard is an independent news agency. CPJ had specifically called attention to Niazi's case as the longest-running of the three detentions. INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT: The releases come after CPJ had urged the EU to cancel Taliban migration talks in Brussels unless the journalists were freed. UNAMA had issued formal calls for their release. The Taliban's decision to grant bail to the TOLOnews journalists — while still proceeding toward trial — appears calibrated to reduce international pressure while maintaining the legal threat. The EU-Taliban Brussels migration talks have been a point of contention, with rights organizations arguing that proceeding with diplomatic meetings rewards Taliban press repression with legitimacy. AFGHANISTAN PRESS FREEDOM CONTEXT: The three detentions were the most high-profile in a pattern of Taliban media restrictions. TOLO News is Afghanistan's largest television network. The Taliban has shut down over 200 media outlets since 2021 and has implemented strict regulations requiring coverage to reflect Islamic Emirate values. Under Taliban rule, Afghanistan ranked last globally in RSF's World Press Freedom Index. OPERATIONAL STATUS (Day 91): No confirmed Pakistani cross-border airstrikes into Afghanistan for the 22nd consecutive day since the May 5 Dangam, Kunar strike. Pakistan security forces continued precision intelligence-based operations (IBOs) within Pakistani territory. No formal ceasefire; no Urumqi Round 2 date; China has been silent on mediation since April 8. Russia declared 'full-fledged partnership' with Taliban at the SCO Security Heads Meeting in Moscow on May 26 (Day 90).