Five months of Pakistani journalist in Jalalabad prison - XVI
Faizullah Khan was detained by Afghan authorities in eastern Nangarhar province in April 2014.
Part - 16: (Intriguing account of a Pakistani journalist captured in Afghanistan for interview of Taliban leadership)
Read Part - 15 here: Five months of Pakistani journalist in Jalalabad prison – XV
The prisoners present inside my cell encouraged me aloud and prayed specially for me. After every while I hear voice of some prisoner bearing a message for me that these troubles will eliminate soon and we will be freed. A Taliban commander detained in front of my cell believed that these plights actually approach due to the orders of Allah therefore; they should be faced and overcome patiently while considering them hurdles in the way of Jannah.
The next whole day was spent worrying what will happen next with me. Night approached quietly. I was asleep in my cell when the door opened suddenly and security officials took me out for interrogation. They handcuffed me as usual and I was transferred to a specific room. After entering the room I witnessed that besides the investigating officer one more man was present in the room. Interestingly, I at first sight evaluated that the second official was either a Pakistani or Indian citizen but was not an Afghan at least. My fears were proved correct as he was an Indian citizen with possibly related to their intelligence RAW.
Today’s interrogation was altogether different which strengthen my idea about the new man. Intelligence authorities started investigating me according to the questionnaire placed in front of them. Renowned anchor person Hamid Mir was attacked two days before when I reached Afghanistan and I covered that incident. I was asked about the motives behind that attack and the involvement of Pakistan’s intelligence agencies in the matter.
Interestingly, I at first sight evaluated that the second official was either a Pakistani or Indian citizen but was not an Afghan at least. My fears were proved correct as he was an Indian citizen with possibly related to their intelligence RAW.
I told them that Hamid Mir’s brother alleged the intelligence agencies of carrying out the attack but they did not have any proof.
Next session of the talks was related to the policy of various channels, talk shows about agencies and the investment of underworld don in Bol channel. The intelligence authorities were forcing me to inform them about the investment of underworld don Daud Ibrahim and Pakistani agency in Bol channel.
“I had no information regarding this. It will be better if you utilize your sources so that they can give you all the details.” I answered.
I was interrogated in Pashto but surprisingly the Indian agent took notes of my conversation and neither interfered during the whole investigation nor spoke any word. As the proceeding came to an end, I looked at the clock on the wall. It was midnight.
When I arrived at my cell, I saw a man sitting in it who apparently looked like a Taliban fighter. He had bruises all over his body and his one eye had a punch mark. On his shirt ‘Abdur Rehman’ was written with a marker. I greeted him, in response to which he only said that, “I am very much tired. I was arrested by the Americans. We will talk in the morning.”
After Fajr prayers he told me that his name is Abdur Rehman and American authorities detained him three days before from Jalalabad market. He was now handed over to Afghan authorities after much torture. The intelligence agencies transferred him to another cell after some days.
This small meeting extended in the jail where I came to know that Abdur Rehman is actually an imperative commander of Haqqani network and was wanted to America in various attacks.
Read the Urdu version here: Five months in Jalalabad prison
