Reporters Without Borders Urges Pakistan to Protect 200 Afghan Journalists at Risk of Forced Return to Taliban-Ruled Afghanistan

Reporters Without Borders, an international media watchdog, is urging Pakistan to protect more than 200 Afghan journalists who fled their homeland following the Taliban's resurgence in August 2021. As the U.S. and NATO forces withdrew after over two decades of war, these journalists sought refuge in Pakistan. However, recent actions by Pakistani authorities have raised concerns about their safety. Pakistan initiated a crackdown on undocumented foreigners, primarily targeting an estimated 1.7 million Afghans.

The crackdown began on November 1, following the expiration of a month-long grace period for unregistered foreigners to leave voluntarily. Nearly 270,000 Afghans who feared arrest and forced expulsion have returned to Afghanistan, including individuals who had lived in Pakistan for up to four decades. They had not registered with the UN refugee agency because they found Pakistani authorities to be hospitable and did not anticipate a sudden demand for their departure. Among the Afghans remaining in Pakistan are approximately 200 journalists. Additionally, around 25,000 Afghans are waiting for relocation to the United States under a special refugee program.

Under U.S. rules, applicants must first move to a third country, in this instance, Pakistan, for their cases to be processed. The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad has issued protection letters to these applicants to prevent their deportation, but Pakistani authorities argue that these letters hold no legal value. Reporters Without Borders has expressed concerns over the treatment of Afghan journalists in Pakistan. They cite instances of harassment, extortion by Pakistani police officers, arbitrary arrests, pressure on landlords to evict Afghan tenants, and prolonged visa application procedures.

Some journalists had published sensitive information in Afghanistan and sought refuge in Pakistan for their safety. Deporting them back to Afghanistan would jeopardize their well-being, exposing them to significant danger. The organization calls on the Pakistani government to refrain from arresting any Afghan journalists and to guarantee their protection and security within Pakistan. Pakistani authorities have stated that they will not expel Afghan journalists facing threats in their home country. However, they will only consider the cases of "genuine working journalists."

Many Afghan journalists lost their jobs after the Taliban takeover, and female journalists face additional challenges due to work prohibitions and travel restrictions imposed by the Taliban. International rights groups have criticized the curbing of journalistic freedom in Afghanistan, and the United Nations has condemned the intimidation, threats, and attacks on Afghan journalists by the Taliban. During the Taliban's previous rule in the late 1990s, media outlets such as television, radio, and newspapers were largely prohibited. Reporters Without Borders ranks Afghanistan as 152 out of 180 countries in terms of press freedom, highlighting the dire situation faced by journalists in the country. It is crucial for Pakistan to ensure the safety and security of these Afghan journalists, considering the risks they face if forced to return to Afghanistan.