Exiled Media Group Urges Pakistan to End Detention and Deportation of Afghan Journalists

Exiled Media Group Urges Pakistan to End Detention and Deportation of Afghan Journalists
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An Afghan media organization operating in exile has issued an urgent plea to Pakistan, demanding an immediate halt to the arrests and deportations of Afghan journalists, warning that forced returns severely endanger their safety and undermine press freedom, Khaama Press reported.

The organization, Nai-Supporting Open Media in Afghanistan, condemned the recent arrest of journalist Jawad Etimad in Islamabad after his residence visa expired. Authorities have indicated Etimad faces imminent deportation to Afghanistan.

The group warned that if deported, Afghan journalists risk questioning and reprisals from Taliban security and intelligence agencies, as no assurances of freedom or protection exist in their homeland. Etimad himself had previously faced arrest under Taliban rule, raising significant fears for his safety upon forced return.

The exiled media group stressed that the fate of several journalists previously expelled from Pakistan and Iran remains unknown. It urged Pakistan to respect its international commitments, cease the deportation of Afghan media workers, and ensure their protection while they remain in the country, cautioning that continued forced repatriations will deepen the humanitarian crisis and silence critical voices.