The Taliban denied its role in Indian Pulitzer-winning photojournalist Danish Siddiqui’s death. The 38-year-old was killed while covering clashes between Afghan troops and the Taliban in the Spin Boldak district of Kandahar city. He was injured on Thursday night while accompanying Afghan soldiers who were attacked and succumbed to his injuries on Friday.

Also read: Will Afghans lose civil liberties again? 5 things Taliban banned in the 90s

“We are not aware during whose firing the journalist was killed. We do not know how he died,” Taliban’s spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid told CNN-News18 on Friday.

The Afghanistan-based military organization expressed regret over the Reuters journalist’s death. 

Also read: Taliban, Pakistani forces instructed to target India-built Afghan assets: Report

“Any journalist entering the war zone should inform us. We will take proper care of that particular individual. We are sorry for Indian journalist Danish Siddiqui’s death. We regret that journalists are entering war zone without intimation to us,” Mujahid was quoted as saying by CNN-News18.

Also read: Kabul, Taliban negotiators to meet in Qatar as Afghan fighting rages

The slain photojournalist will be laid to rest at the Jamia Millia Islamia graveyard in New Delhi.

“Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) Vice Chancellor accepted the request of the family of late photojournalist Danish Siddiqui to bury his body at the JMI graveyard meant exclusively for university employees, their spouses and minor child,” PTI reported, quoting the university. 

The Editors Guild of India (EGI) on Saturday condoled Siddiqui’s death. In a joint statement, the Press Association and the Indian Women Press Corps said Siddiqui’s death while on duty in a conflict situation has once again highlighted the poor safety conditions of the scribes.