MUMBAI: BBC's South Asia Bureau Chief Paul Danahar has been given one of Britain's most prestigious awards, the MBE, for services to journalism. The award honours Danahar for his work as BBC's Baghdad Bureau Chief during the Iraq war where he led a small team of BBC journalists, including correspondent Rageh Omaar. His team had been among the few who stayed on in Baghdad throughout the war to report on the conflict. Danahar had also covered the war for the newsmagazine 'Outlook'.
 
 
Paul Danahar
Speaking about the award Danahar said, "I'm pleased to accept this award on behalf of the BBC team because I think it recognises the importance of journalists being on both sides of conflicts like the Iraq war."

BBC News World News Editor Jonathan Baker, on hearing the news, congratulated Danahar saying, "no-one deserves this more than he (Paul) does. His leadership in difficult and dangerous circumstances was outstanding. They (The team) all demonstrated great resilience, professionalism and courage throughout, and it is fantastic to see their efforts recognised and rewarded in this way. Many congratulations to Paul and his team."

Paul Danahar is, at present, based in India as BBC's first-ever South Asia Editor. He will shoulder editorial responsibility for BBC's entire news operation in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, Afghanistan and central Asia.

Danahar's earlier experience in South Asia includes his stint in BBC as a senior world affairs producer in Delhi between 1996-2000. During that time he covered all the major news in the region, from the Kargil conflict, the coup in Pakistan to the Orrissa cyclone and the Bangladesh floods. He also travelled extensively in Afghanistan during the Taliban era. Danahar then spent two years working for the BBC in Africa, which included coverage of events in Sierra Lone, the Congo, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

Immediately after the 9/11 attacks Danahar was deployed to work with BBC correspondents - Rageh Omaar and John Simpson, in the run up to the fall of Kabul to American-led forces. He returned to Delhi to take up his present position as Bureau Editor in August 2002.