RSF warns Afghan journalists in Pakistan face arrests and deportation

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has warned that Afghan refugees, particularly exiled journalists in Pakistan, are facing a new wave of arrests and threats of deportation.

The organization said Friday that several Afghan journalists were detained in different Pakistani cities over the past week and transferred to holding centers.

According to RSF, at least six journalists under its protection have been forcibly returned to Afghanistan during the past 15 days.

One journalist told the organization that Pakistani police repeatedly came to his home and even detained him for about an hour despite his visa still being valid.

Other journalists reported remaining isolated inside their homes due to fear of arrest and said they are facing shortages of food and other basic necessities.

Some journalists also said they were forced to pay bribes to Pakistani police to avoid detention or deportation. RSF’s South Asia bureau chief, Célia Mercier, said the arrests and deportations are unacceptable because they target journalists who fled Afghanistan due to threats.

She warned that returning them to Afghanistan could expose them to serious risks, including violence and detention.

Since the return to power of the Taliban in 2021, nearly 200 Afghan journalists and their families have sought refuge in Pakistan.

However, resettlement programs to third countries have slowed significantly or been halted, leaving many exiled journalists in legal uncertainty.

RSF also noted that Afghanistan’s media environment has become increasingly restricted under Taliban rule, with censorship and pressure on independent journalists.

The organization warned that without urgent international action, many Afghan journalists in Pakistan could face forced return to Afghanistan and serious security risks.

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