KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Three major international press freedom organizations have called on the Pakistani government to immediately stop the arrests, harassment, and deportations of Afghan journalists living in the country and to uphold the principle of non-refoulement.
In a joint letter to Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, on Friday, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), and Free Press Unlimited (FPU) expressed “deep alarm” over an intensifying crackdown amid rising tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban.
The groups said the situation worsened after Pakistan described its relations with Kabul as an “open war” on Feb. 27. Several Afghan journalists were detained last week, bringing the number of documented cases to more than 20 since January 2026, according to the letter.
The letter noted that at least six journalists supported by RSF were forcibly returned to Afghanistan in the past 15 days, raising the total number of deportations since January to nine.
“The risks they face upon return to Afghanistan are acute and foreseeable,” the letter warned. “In this context, deporting Afghan journalists amounts to exposing them to retaliation, arbitrary detention, and worse.”
The letter demanded that Pakistan immediately halt arbitrary arrests and deportations, respect the principle of non-refoulement, release detained journalists held solely for their nationality or immigration status, and establish temporary protections to prevent harassment and unlawful detention.
“We stand ready to engage constructively with your government and relevant authorities to support solutions that respect security needs while fully complying with Pakistan’s human rights obligations,” the letter concluded.
Pakistan has, in recent months, intensified operations targeting undocumented Afghan refugees as border tensions with the Taliban authorities have increased. The crackdown has led to widespread detentions and deportations of Afghans across the country, including journalists, civil society activists, and women.
Press freedom and human rights advocates say Afghanistan remains unsafe for journalists and other vulnerable groups. They warn that without stronger international intervention and expanded resettlement programs, many Afghan journalists and media workers forced to leave Pakistan could face serious risks if returned.
