KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – NAI, Supporting Open Media in Afghanistan, now in exile, has called on the Pakistani government to stop the deportation of Afghan journalists and media workers and not use them as leverage against the Taliban.
In a statement shared with the media, NAI said that at least five journalists and media workers were arrested in Islamabad over the past 24 hours and sent to detention centers, where they are awaiting deportation to Afghanistan.
The group warned that forced returns could put these journalists and media workers at serious risk, including threats to their lives. It urged Pakistan to ensure long-term protection for Afghan media workers residing in the country.
“Using these individuals as instruments against the Taliban is incompatible with religious, moral, and international standards,” NAI said, noting that under Taliban rule, members of the press and civil society are often considered enemies and may face execution.
The appeal comes amid Pakistan’s intensified crackdown on Afghan refugees following last month’s border clashes with the Taliban. In recent days, many journalists and activists, including women, have been detained and deported back to Afghanistan.
Earlier this week, Pakistani forces conducted a raid in “Argentina Park” in Islamabad around midnight, detaining dozens of Afghan activists, journalists, and their family members, dismantling their tents, and allegedly subjecting some to physical abuse. According to sources, the affected refugees had been maintaining protest encampments in the park for months, enduring extreme weather conditions while advocating for their rights.
Rights groups have repeatedly urged Pakistan to suspend deportations, noting that Afghanistan remains unsafe, particularly for journalists, women, minorities, former government employees, and civil society activists.
Despite mounting criticism, deportations continue, with Pakistani authorities describing the policy as a “national security and border management measure.” Refugee advocates warn that without stronger international intervention, thousands more Afghans could face forced return to danger.
