Afghan govt's honors journalists for covering Kunduz battle

The Afghan government held the certificate-awarding ceremony Saturday to honor the journalists in recognition of their courage and professionalism for covering Kunduz battle late in September and early in October.

Jawid Omid and Abdullah Shah, reporters with Xinhua News Agency, were among the three dozen journalists honored.

Ahmad Zia Masoud, the vice-presidential level special representative of the president on reforms and good governance, addressed the ceremony, appreciating those journalists for their timely and thorough coverage from the battle field.

Masoud said, the reporters lively depicted the warzone when the clash was on-going between Taliban and government forces in Kunduz city.

Kunduz city, the capital of Kunduz province, 250 km north of Kabul, was fallen to Taliban militants on Sept. 29 and the government forces backed by the U.S. military recaptured it 12 days later after fierce fighting.

After the ceremony, both Xinhua journalists said it is a pride for themselves to be honored by the Afghan government.

"Although working in Kunduz during the fire exchanges was very risky, I feel proud that I was among the few journalists who entered the city and reflected the city-in-war to the Afghans and the world," Omid said.

Shah said he felt happy to finish his job in Kunduz successfully and he wants to express his gratitude to the Afghan government in recognizing the achievements of the journalists.

Hundreds of Taliban militants, security personnel and 163 civilians were killed during the war for the control of Kunduz city and hundreds others sustained injuries, according to officials. Endit