Media groups call on Pakistan to halt deportations of Afghan journalists
Media groups call on Pakistan to halt deportations of Afghan journalists
——————————————-
Three international press freedom organizations have called on Pakistan to stop the arrest and deportation of Afghan journalists living in exile, warning that forced returns could put them at serious risk.
In a letter to Pakistan’s prime minister, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and the Journalists in Need Network expressed what they described as “grave concern” over the detention and deportation of Afghan journalists.
The groups said harassment, arbitrary arrests and deportations of Afghan journalists in Pakistan have increased in recent weeks, coinciding with rising military tensions between Pakistan and Taliban.
According to the organizations, several Afghan journalists who fled Afghanistan and were living in Pakistan have been detained and transferred to holding centers over the past week.
They said the arrests add to more than 20 documented cases since the beginning of 2026, while at least six journalists supported by RSF were forcibly returned to Afghanistan in the past 15 days.
The letter said the total number of Afghan journalists deported from Pakistan since January has reached nine.
The organizations warned that returning journalists to Afghanistan exposes them to risks including retaliation, arbitrary detention, torture and other serious threats.
They called on Pakistan’s government to immediately stop the arrest, detention, harassment and forced deportation of Afghan journalists living in exile.
The groups also urged Pakistan to respect the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning individuals to places where they face serious danger.
