Paris, March 7: A prominent international press freedom organization has expressed deep concern regarding the targeting of Afghan refugees, including exiled journalists, in Pakistan. The group has drawn global attention to the abuses these individuals are facing.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) claims that the escalating clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan are being used as a pretext for these actions. Islamabad declared an “open war” on February 27.
According to the organization, “Afghan journalists seeking refuge in Pakistan are being arrested and threatened with expulsion from the country. The issue is that if they return, their lives could be in even greater danger.”
RSF reported that several Afghan journalists were detained in Pakistan last week amid rising military tensions between the two countries.
These arrests are part of nearly 20 detentions recorded by RSF since the beginning of 2026. In the last 15 days, around six journalists supported by RSF have been forcibly sent back to Afghanistan, bringing the total to nine since January.
Highlighting the concerns shared by many media professionals, RSF quoted one journalist saying, “Since February 27, police have been conducting repeated raids against Afghans in our area.”
RSF noted that numerous others have also complained about abuses by the Pakistani military, including corruption, where those detained are forced to pay hefty amounts.
One journalist recounted, “After spending the whole day in a detention center, I was coerced into paying 115,000 PKR (approximately $400) to avoid deportation and secure my release. The next day, my landlord also asked me to leave.”
RSF stated that these media professionals fled Afghanistan due to restrictions imposed by the Taliban regime.
Celia Mercier, head of the RSF South Asia desk, emphasized, “The current situation should not be used as a pretext for arbitrary arrests or deportations. Such retaliatory actions are especially unacceptable as they target media professionals who fled Afghanistan due to threats from the Taliban. Arresting them and sending them back to their country puts them at risk of arrest, violence, and worse.”
She further urged Pakistani authorities to immediately cease the arrest and deportation of Afghan journalists, guarantee their safety, and respect the principle of non-refoulement.
RSF highlighted that against the backdrop of tensions with the Taliban regime, this is part of a broader policy initiated by Pakistani authorities in 2023 to expel Afghan refugees.
My name is Bhupendra Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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