Media Group Warns: Detention of Afghan Journalists in Pakistan Puts Lives at Risk

An Afghan media watchdog said the detention of journalists in Pakistan endangers their lives, calling for their immediate release and an end to forced deportations.

The Afghanistan Media Support Organization has voiced concern over the repeated arrest of Afghan journalists in Pakistan, calling for the immediate release of three detained reporters.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the group said one journalist was arrested in Peshawar and two others in Islamabad over the past week, identifying them as Abdulrahman Mangal, Asma Mohammadi and Samim Naimi.

The organization warned that the detention of Afghan journalists, many of whom face deportation, puts their lives at serious risk, particularly if they are forced to return to Afghanistan.

Pakistan has expelled hundreds of thousands of Afghan migrants over the past year as part of a nationwide crackdown, with journalists and human rights activists among those affected.

Many Afghan reporters fled to Pakistan after facing threats, harassment and restrictions on independent media activity following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.

The group described the arrests as a clear violation of freedom of expression, journalistic principles and human rights, saying the detained reporters are living in harsh and uncertain conditions.

It urged Pakistani police to stop the harassment, detention and forced deportation of Afghan journalists and appealed to the United Nations and international organizations to intervene.

As Pakistan intensifies deportations amid strained ties with Afghanistan’s rulers, press freedom advocates warn that detained Afghan journalists face growing risks with few protections.

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