A leading Afghan media watchdog has expressed worry about the repeated arrests of Afghan journalists in Pakistan. The Afghanistan Media Support Organisation (AMSO) demanded the immediate release of three detained reporters – Abdulrahman Mangal, Asma Mohammadi, and Samim Naimi. AMSO highlighted that these arrests in Pakistan, where many face deportation, endanger the journalists’ lives, particularly if sent back to Afghanistan.
The organisation condemned the arrests as a violation of freedom of expression, journalistic principles, and human rights. It called on Pakistani authorities to cease the harassment, arrest, and forced deportation of Afghan journalists. AMSO also urged the United Nations and other international bodies to intervene in this matter.
Pakistan has deported numerous Afghan migrants in the past year as part of a broader crackdown, affecting journalists and human rights activists. Many Afghan journalists sought refuge in Pakistan due to threats and restrictions on independent media following the Taliban’s rise to power in 2021.
Amnesty International recently urged Pakistan to protect Afghan refugees within its borders from mistreatment and unlawful actions by security agencies. The organization expressed concerns over the detention, harassment, and deportation of Afghan refugees, emphasizing their vulnerability and the need for state protection.
The rights group demanded that Pakistani authorities prevent the deportation of Afghan refugees and ensure their safety in line with international human rights laws. Amnesty International cited UNHCR data indicating that approximately 110,000 refugees and asylum seekers face deportation threats and require protection. It also underscored the risks faced by women, journalists, and human rights activists if forcibly returned to Afghanistan.
Pakistan has been a host to Afghan refugees for over four decades, providing shelter to hundreds of thousands fleeing conflict and political turmoil. However, since the initiation of the “Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan” in September 2023, Pakistan has intensified efforts to repatriate undocumented and unverified Afghans, including some with legal refugee status.
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), since the start of the deportation campaign, 1,495,851 Afghan refugees have returned to Afghanistan, with a significant portion returning in 2025 alone. Similar deportation initiatives are underway in countries like Iran, with over four million Afghans reportedly deported or compelled to return from Pakistan and Iran since September 2023, including more than 2.6 million in 2025.
