KABUL, Afghanistan

Afghan Taliban threatened personnel of two leading private news television channels of dire consequences on Monday following reports accusing the militant group of raping young women during the recent Kunduz city takeover.

Earlier in October, Taliban overran Kunduz city, the provincial capital of northern Kunduz province, and held it for at least three days. Following the government forces’ victory over the militants, Afghan television channels, Tolo News and 1TV, aired live reports during which they claimed that among several atrocities, the Taliban also raped female students inside their hostels in the city. 

The Taliban countered the allegations with their own accusations against the channels, calling them tools in the hands of the U.S.-led forces. The militant group also claimed that the girls’ hostel in question was actually closed following Eid al-Adha holidays when they overran the city and termed the rape accusations baseless.

“The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan [Taliban] from now onwards does not recognize Tolo and 1 TV channels as media outlets but designates them as military objectives due to their disrespectful and hostile actions,” the Taliban said in its message, adding that no employee of the media outlets, including its anchors, news team and reporters would be spared by the militant group from now on.

Saad Mohsini, director of the Moby Group that owns Tolo/ Lemar networks, dismissed the Taliban threats. “Proud to say that our people will always report without bias and fear, we will not be intimidated by any group,” Mohsini, whose location on Twitter claimed he was based in Dubai, said in a tweet Monday.