Taliban reportedly releases two Kabul journalists held for unknown reasons - RFE/RL

AP

The Taliban reportedly has freed two local journalists from the private Ariana TV two days after they were detained for unknown reasons, as Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported.

Sharif Hassanyar, the head of Ariana Television, tweeted on February 2 that Waris Hasrat and Aslam Ejab had been freed.

"Finally TB [Taliban] release Aslam Ejab and Waris Hasrat. They were in detention of TB for two nights," he wrote on Twitter.

The two were detained by armed Taliban guards at the front gate of their organization on January 31. No reason was given for the move, and no government agency or ministry confirmed the two had been taken into custody.

Hasrat is an anchor and producer for the political desk and Ejab has worked for the economic desk of the news channel for many years.

The detentions came a day after a guest criticized the Taliban regime during a live debate broadcast by Ariana. A segment of the debate was widely shared on social media.

The Taliban has been arresting protesters, women’s rights activists, and journalists since they retook power in August.

Some of the released journalists have reported that their equipment had been confiscated and they had been subjected to abuse and torture.

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty