Amso Reports Arrest of Five Afghan Journalists in Pakistan, Raising Security Concerns

The Afghanistan Media Support Organization (Amso) has announced that Pakistani police have detained five Afghan journalists in recent weeks, a move that has heightened concerns about the security situation for journalists in the country.

In a statement released on Monday, January 31, the organization said the arrests of Afghan journalists in Pakistan are on the rise, with several individuals withholding their identities due to serious security fears.

According to Amso, Samim Forough Faizi, a reporter, and Atta-ur-Rehman Shirzad, a cameraman, are among those who were arrested by Pakistani police. Although these individuals were eventually released after extensive efforts, Amso emphasized that the arrests themselves have caused widespread concern.

Amso stressed that these incidents demonstrate that Afghan journalists and media workers in Pakistan face serious security threats, arbitrary detentions, and the risk of forced deportation. The organization has called on countries and media-supporting institutions that have committed to accepting Afghan journalists to take practical and effective measures to ensure their safety in Pakistan.