Exiled Afghanistan Journalists in Pakistan Urge Global Action to Stop Forced Deportations
Exiled Afghanistan journalists in Pakistan demand an immediate halt to forced deportations, urging global media bodies and rights organizations to provide urgent protection and humanitarian support.
Thousands of Afghanistan’s journalists who fled to Pakistan after the Taliban’s return to power are now facing the threat of forced deportation. Many have been living in uncertainty for months or even years while awaiting relocation to Europe or the United States.
On Saturday, August 9, exiled journalists issued an urgent appeal to the Pakistani government, media advocacy groups, and international organizations, calling for immediate intervention. Their concerns follow Pakistan’s suspension of visa extensions and a surge in arrests and deportations targeting Afghan refugees.
Journalists reported that the ongoing crackdown has left men, women, and children living in constant fear, with some forced to seek shelter on the streets or in unfamiliar areas where their safety is at even greater risk.
While expressing gratitude for the hospitality of the Pakistani people and government, they stressed that any deportations must respect international human rights standards and ensure that no one is returned to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.
Media rights activists warned that continued arrests and expulsions could trigger a humanitarian crisis, severely undermining press freedom and putting Afghanistan journalists directly in harm’s way.
With legal pathways stalled and visa renewals blocked, the risk of forced returns has grown sharply. Activists say such deportations would not only endanger individual lives but also strike a devastating blow to the principle of free expression in the country.
The exiled journalists are urging the international community to act before it is too late, warning that inaction could lead to irreversible consequences for both human rights and press freedom in Afghanistan.
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