Increased Pressure on Afghan Journalists in Pakistan; Several Detained

Reporters Without Borders has stated that since February 27, amid escalating tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, pressure on Afghan refugees in Pakistan, especially exiled journalists, has increased. According to the report, several Afghan journalists have been detained and transferred to detention centers during this period. The organization emphasized that the pace of arrests has accelerated in recent weeks, raising concerns about the fate of these individuals. Reporters Without Borders added that since the beginning of 2026, around 20 Afghan journalists have been detained in Pakistan. Moreover, at least six journalists have been forcibly returned to Afghanistan in the past 15 days, bringing the total number of expulsions this year to nine. According to the organization, the situation has worsened since Pakistan announced the beginning of an “open war” with Afghanistan. These forced returns come as many journalists had fled the country due to security threats and extensive media restrictions under the Taliban’s rule. Freedom of expression advocates have warned that expelling journalists to Afghanistan could expose them to serious danger and have urged Pakistan to uphold its international obligations regarding refugees.