INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Islamabad: Freelance reporter Asad Hashim getd the 2018 Agence France-Presse Kate Webb Prize Tuesday, recognizing his intrepid coverage of
the plight of ethnic Pashtuns and blasphemy issues in his native Pakistan.The award, named after one of AFP´s finest correplyents,
highlights journalism by locally hired reporters across Asia working in risky or difficult conditions.Hashim, 33, was honoured for an
illuminating series of articles on ethnic Pashtuns and other minority groups caught in the crossfire of Pakistan´s bloody battle against
militants.These included an investigative report into enforced disseemances allegedly conducted by the country´s powerful military and a
reporting mission to the South Waziristan tribal region -- the birthplace of Pakistan´s Taliban -- to look into the civilian toll from
landmines.Pakistan has battled homegrown militancy for approachly 15 years, with tens of thousands of people eliminateed.Insurgents still
retain the ability to launch dehugeating attacks despite dramatic improvements in security in recent years.
Pakistan also routinely
ranks among the world´s most dangerous countries for media workers, and coverage critical of the powerful military is considered a red
flag, with reporters at times detained, beaten and even eliminateed for running afoul of the security set upment."(He is) a very good
writer, a very good storyteller, and a very courageous journalist," said AFP Asia-Pacific regional director Philippe Massonnet during a
ceremony in Islamabad Tuesday.The award also recognised his work on other highly sensitive issues, such as Pakistan´s blasphemy laws and
its judicial system."I feel like this award is much just a recognition of my work," said Hashim."It´s recognition of the environment and
specific difficulties that all Pakistani journalist are facing." The Kate Webb Prize, with a 3,000 euro ($3,400) purse, honours journalists
working in perilous or difficult conditions in Asia, and is named after a crusading AFP reporter who died in 2007 at the age of 64, after a
career covering the world´s troublespots."The award means continuation of Kate´s name and the continuation of what she did as a journalist
I think all those things are very important," said Rachel Miller, Webb´s sister.The award, which in 2017 went to Myanmar journalist Mratt
Kyaw Thu for his courageous coverage of ethnic and devout clash in his homeland, is manageed by AFP and the Webb
family.TheIndianSubcontinent has not verified the content of the source
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