February 28, 2026 04:41 am (IST)
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Reuters' Pak-Afghan bureau chief found dead in Islamabad
Islamabad, Feb 23 (IBNS): Reuters' Pakistan and Afghanistan bureau chief Maria Golovnina, who was based in Pakistan's Islamabad, was found dead at her office in the capital city's F-8 sector, media reports said on Monday.
Golovnina had reportedly gone to the toilet, and had not stepped out for a long time when people who were present barged in.
She was spotted lying on the floor covered in vomit.
She was then rushed to Kulsum International Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
An autopsy will be carried out on Golovnina before handing over her body to Russian authorities.
The cause of her death could not be ascertained immediately.
Golovnina had been working with as the Reuters bureau chief for Pakistan and Afghanistan for theone and a half year.
Following her demise, Reuters has issued a statement on its Twitter account.
"We are saddened to announce that Maria Golovnina, Reuters Bureau Chief for Afghanistan and Pakistan, passed away on Monday. She was 34. Maria fell unconscious in the Islamabad bureau. An ambulance arrived quickly and she was rushed to Kulsum International Hospital, but medical teams were unable to save her," Reuters Editor-in-Chief Stephen J. Adler stated.
"Maria was a superb journalist with a long and varied career at Reuters. A fluent Japanese and Russian speaker, she joined Reuters in Tokyo in 2001 and subsequently worked in postings around the world including London, Singapore, Moscow, Afghanistan and Iraq. In 2013, Maria became Bureau Chief for Afghanistan and Pakistan, and led her team through an impressive run of exclusives and insights. Her talents, energy and can-do spirit will be sorely missed." the statement said.
"All of us at Reuters mourn the untimely death of our beloved colleague Maria. She was one of our finest journalists, combining fearlessness with an upbeat enthusiasm that inspired confidence, respect and affection from everyone around her. She will be deeply missed," said Adler.
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