Freelance Afghan journalist Ubaidullah Ahmadi has been arrested by police in Islamabad, Pakistan, leading to worries about the safety of exiled reporters facing potential forced deportation. The reason for Ahmadi’s detention is currently unclear, with no official statement released by Pakistani authorities. This incident occurs amidst increased house-to-house inspections in Islamabad to identify undocumented Afghan migrants for detention and potential deportation, as reported by Afghanistan’s news agency Khaama Press.
Dozens of Afghan journalists have allegedly been detained during these operations, lacking legal protection and vulnerable to arrest, harassment, and deportation under Pakistan’s strict migration policies. Many detained journalists have expressed concerns that returning to Afghanistan could endanger their lives due to threats from current authorities. The arrest of Ahmadi has reignited worries among rights groups and media organizations, urging Pakistan to protect exiled journalists and uphold press freedom commitments.
In a recent report, media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) disclosed that Pakistan had forcibly repatriated at least 20 Afghan journalists to Afghanistan in 2025, violating international refugee protections. RSF highlighted that the expulsion of Afghan journalists from Pakistan violates the principle of non-refoulement, emphasizing the fears of arrest, extortion, and immediate deportation faced by numerous Afghan journalists residing in Pakistan.
RSF mentioned that approximately 200 Afghan journalists sought refuge in Pakistan following threats from the Taliban or reprisals after the group’s takeover in Afghanistan in 2021. Despite awaiting relocation to Western countries with RSF’s assistance, these journalists have encountered delays in the resettlement process, leaving them in legal uncertainty. Pakistan’s reluctance to extend residency permits for Afghans since mid-2025 has placed thousands, including journalists, at risk of being labeled “illegal,” leading to a surge in arbitrary arrests, detentions, and deportations of Afghan journalists over the past six months.
