'Intelligence detains two Afghan reporters'

Afghanistan's intelligence agency has detained two Afghan producers working for Al-Jazeera television without an explanation, the Doha-based satellite station said Monday.

English service producer Qais Azimi was told to report to the offices of the National Directorate of Security (NDS) on Sunday but had not been allowed to leave, Al-Jazeera reported and one of its journalists confirmed to AFP.

A producer for the Arabic service, Hamidullah Mohammad Shah, was at the same time picked up at the broadcaster's offices in the centre of Kabul.

"The NDS summoned Qais and said it was to answer some simple questions and later they sent men to our office to take Mohammad Shah as well," journalist Waliullah Shaheen told AFP.

An NDS spokesman was not immediately available to comment. Al-Jazeera also said it had no explanation from the agency.

Shaheen said the arrest of the Arabic service reporter may be linked to his brief detention by Taliban insurgents in the eastern province of Kunar last month.

Militants stole his cash, mobile phone and a media card giving him access to press events at the heavily secured offices of President Hamid Karzai.

"They said they will ask Mohammad Shah some questions on the loss of the press cards," said Shaheen.

Al-Jazeera reported the theft to Karzai's office which has since recalled all presidential palace accreditation passes.

Azimi had meanwhile this month travelled to the northern province of Kunduz where he met with Taliban militants and recorded footage, which was aired last Friday.

"We think Qais was taken in relation to the trip he had to Kunduz and the footage aired on Al-Jazeera TV," Shaheen said.

"Our colleagues have done nothing wrong and we want them released immediately," he said.

Afghan journalists are under pressure from all sides in Afghanistan's insurgency, with militants killing some reporters and authorities arresting others.

A radio reporter in the eastern province of Khost was detained for two nights by the US military this month after being arrested during a raid against radical networks. The military said later he had been picked up in error, he said.