Afghan government’s media director shot dead by the Taliban

Several recent attacks against civilians have been claimed by the Islamic State, although the government most often holds the Taliban responsible

Afghan women and children travel in a motorcycle cart to escape fighting between Taliban and Afghan security force. Picture: Hamed Sarfarazi/AP

The Taliban has shot dead the director of Afghanistan’s Government Information Media Centre in the latest attack on journalists and human rights activists in recent months.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the groups’ fighters had killed Dawa Khan Menapal, who ran the government’s press operations for the local and foreign media.