Pakistan’s aggressive push against undocumented Afghans has claimed another high-profile victim: freelance journalist Ubaidullah Ahmadi, now in police custody in Islamabad. This incident amplifies growing anxieties over the safety of exiled reporters who sought refuge after the Taliban’s 2021 takeover.
No official explanation has emerged for Ahmadi’s arrest, leaving his supporters in the dark. It unfolds against a backdrop of intensified raids by Pakistani officials, part of a broader effort to round up and expel Afghan migrants without proper papers. Media advocacy groups note that these sweeps have ensnared numerous journalists, stripping them of vital legal safeguards.
Detainees warn that being sent back to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan spells mortal peril. The arrests have mobilized human rights bodies and journalism networks, demanding that Pakistan prioritize journalist protections and press freedoms in line with its commitments.
Amu TV’s investigation, backed by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), exposes the scale of the problem. Last year, 20 Afghan journalists were forcibly deported from Pakistan in 2025, flouting the non-refoulement doctrine—a cornerstone of refugee law. RSF’s analysis, supported by Pakistani media and internal records, labels these expulsions as blatant violations, creating an atmosphere of dread for others who face similar threats of seizure, shakedowns, and abrupt removal.
Since the Taliban’s victory four years ago, approximately 200 Afghan journalists have escaped to Pakistan, driven by threats of Taliban vengeance. Many await RSF-facilitated transfers to safer nations, but bureaucratic delays have trapped them in uncertainty.
Pakistan’s policy shift—halting residence permit extensions for Afghans mid-2025—has left thousands at risk of ‘illegal’ status. The last half-year has seen a sharp rise in capricious detentions and deportations targeting reporters, eroding Pakistan’s role as a sanctuary.
With calls mounting for accountability, Ahmadi’s case serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities confronting those who fled tyranny, urging global action to shield them from refoulement.
