The Afghanistan Media Support Organization (AMSO) condemned the arrest of four Afghan journalists and media personnel in Islamabad, Pakistan, with one being forcibly expelled. AMSO labeled these actions as illegal and a severe threat to press freedom. They called for the release of all detained journalists by the Pakistani government and its security agencies.
AMSO emphasized the importance of facilitating visa renewals for Afghan journalists in Pakistan to ensure their safety and protect their ability to work. They also urged the international community and journalist protection groups to intervene and support Afghan media personnel residing in Pakistan. Afghan journalists in Pakistan often encounter challenges related to visas, residency, and work permits, leading to harassment and administrative obstacles affecting their reporting.
The recent detention of freelance Afghan journalist Ubaidullah Ahmadi in Islamabad has raised concerns about the safety of exiled reporters facing potential forced deportation. Pakistani authorities have intensified house-to-house inspections to identify undocumented Afghan migrants for detention and deportation. Dozens of Afghan journalists have reportedly been detained during these operations, lacking legal protection and facing the risk of arrest, harassment, and deportation under Pakistan’s strict migration policies.
Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) highlighted that Pakistan forcibly returned at least 20 Afghan journalists to Afghanistan in 2025, violating international refugee protections. RSF criticized Pakistan for breaching the principle of non-refoulement and expressed concerns about the safety of Afghan journalists in Pakistan facing arrest, extortion, and immediate deportation. Many Afghan journalists who fled to Pakistan due to Taliban threats are awaiting relocation to Western nations with RSF’s assistance, but their resettlement processes have stalled, leaving them in legal uncertainty.
