Rising Arrests and Deportations of Afghan Journalists in Pakistan Amid Islamabad’s ‘Open War’ on Taliban
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has warned of a new wave of arrests and deportation threats targeting Afghan refugees—especially exiled journalists—in Pakistan following Islamabad’s declaration of an “open war” against the Taliban. According to the organization, several journalists have been detained in various Pakistani cities over recent days and transferred to detention centers.
A report published on Friday, March 5, states that at least six journalists supported by RSF have been forcibly returned to Afghanistan in the past 15 days, despite some holding valid residence permits.
One journalist told Reporters Without Borders that police have visited his home multiple times and detained him for about an hour despite his valid visa. Other journalists reported being subjected to enforced isolation, shortages of food, and difficulties accessing basic necessities at their residences. Some also claimed they had to pay bribes to police to prevent deportation.
Sylvie Malcor, head of RSF’s South Asia bureau, described these actions as “unacceptable” and emphasized that forcibly returning journalists who fled Afghanistan due to threats from the Taliban administration exposes them to serious risks of violence and re-arrest.
Since the Taliban regained control over Afghanistan, the country’s media space has been severely restricted, and censorship has intensified. According to RSF’s assessment, Afghanistan ranks 175th out of 180 countries in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index, reflecting increasingly cramped conditions for media and journalists inside the country.
Nearly 200 Afghan journalists and their families have sought refuge in Pakistan following recent political developments. However, their transfer and resettlement in third countries have largely stalled or slowed significantly. RSF’s report notes that by 2025, at least 20 exiled Afghan journalists in Pakistan have been forcibly returned to Afghanistan.
