Andrew North, Journalist is part of a nine-strong group held by Afghanistan’s new leadership.
Amrullah Salh was the ex-vice president of Afghanistan. saysThe Taliban “kidnapped”There are nine western nationals, one journalist and one former employee of the BBC. Andrew North, Peter Juvenal and a restaurateur were both identified in a tweet that was explosive.
Saleh fled Afghanistan last year after the Western-backed government was overthrown by Taliban insurgents. He claims to now be the head of the government-in exile. Other sources may have supported Saleh’s kidnapping claim, such as the UN.
According to the United Nations refugee agency, two Afghan journalists and Afghan nationals on assignment were also detained in Kabul. UNHCR stated that it is working to solve the problem and did not make any further comment. “given the nature of the situation.”
Kabul has detained two journalists working for UNHCR as well as Afghan nationals. Given the gravity of the situation, we will not comment further.
— UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency (@Refugees) February 11, 2022
BBC News executive editor Paul Danahar responded to Saleh’s tweet, saying North was working for the UN in Kabul and suggested that all inquiries about him should be directed there. “He is a former colleague and a respected journalist,”He added that his coworkers and friends were supportive. “obviously concerned about” him.
Andrew North works for UN Kabul. A former colleague, he is also a well-respected journalist. Any inquiries concerning his condition, that his colleagues and friends are evidently concerned about, should go to the UN. https://t.co/RuQTwc1EYu
— Paul Danahar (@BBCDanahar) February 11, 2022
North used to regularly post on Twitter accountHowever, it hasn’t been updated since February 3.
Some Afghan media reported that their sources in the BBC World Service confirmed North’s detention.
The Taliban has not immediately commented on Saleh’s allegations.
North was a BBC correspondent working in several parts of the world including Afghanistan, Iraq Lebanon and India since 2000. His LinkedIn page shows that he became independent in 2014. He has also been published work by The Economist (Polito, NPR, The Guardian) and other outlets like The Guardian. He is listed in his bio as being based out of Tbilisi Georgia.
Peter Juvenal (the other name given by Saleh) appears to have been a British soldier. TIME’s 2010 story says that Juvenal was a former soldier who helped Afghan insurgents defeat the Soviet-backed government at Kabul in 1980. Later, he worked as a BBC cameraman before opening a restaurant in Kabul.
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