Kabul, Jan 16 (NationPress) A prominent Afghan media oversight organization has raised significant alarm regarding the frequent detention of Afghan journalists in Pakistan, calling for the swift release of three reporters currently in custody, according to local media reports on Friday.

In their statement, the Afghanistan Media Support Organisation (AMSO) revealed that two journalists were apprehended in Islamabad, while another was taken into custody in Peshawar. The detained journalists are identified as Abdulrahman Mangal, Asma Mohammadi, and Samim Naimi, as reported by Afghanistan's leading news agency, Khaama Press.

The AMSO highlighted that the apprehension of Afghan journalists in Pakistan, many of whom could face deportation, jeopardizes their safety, particularly if they are compelled to return to Afghanistan.

The organization condemned these arrests as a blatant infringement on freedom of expression, journalistic ethics, and human rights, urging Pakistani authorities to cease the harassment, detention, and forced deportation of Afghan journalists. Additionally, the AMSO called on the United Nations and other international entities to intervene.

Over the past year, Pakistan has repatriated thousands of Afghan migrants in a nationwide crackdown, with journalists and human rights advocates being significantly affected. Many Afghan journalists sought refuge in Pakistan after facing threats and limitations on independent media operations following the Taliban's takeover in 2021.

Recently, Amnesty International, a prominent human rights organization, urged the Pakistani government to safeguard Afghan refugees residing in their territory from harassment and unlawful torture by security forces.

In an open letter to Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the organization expressed serious concerns regarding the unlawful detention, harassment, and deportation of Afghan refugees, emphasizing their vulnerability and the necessity for state protection.

They demanded that Pakistani authorities take immediate actions to prevent the deportation of Afghan refugees and ensure their protection under international human rights laws.

“Pakistani authorities must guarantee that the rights of Afghan refugees are upheld, particularly protection from arbitrary detention and eviction from refugee camps and their accommodations,” stated the letter addressed to the Prime Minister.

According to data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), approximately 110,000 refugees and asylum seekers face imminent threats of deportation and thus require protection. The report also highlighted the heightened vulnerability of women, journalists, and human rights activists if forcibly returned to Afghanistan.

Notably, Pakistan has been a host to Afghan refugees for over 40 years, providing shelter to hundreds of thousands fleeing conflict and political turmoil. However, since the initiation of the “Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan” in September 2023, Pakistan has intensified efforts to repatriate undocumented and unverified Afghans, including those with legal refugee status.

As reported by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), a total of 1,495,851 Afghan refugees have returned to Afghanistan since the start of the deportation campaign, with nearly half, 778,739, returning in 2025 alone.

Additionally, similar deportation campaigns are being conducted in nations such as Iran. Estimates suggest that over four million Afghans have been deported or compelled to return from Pakistan and Iran since September 2023, including more than 2.6 million in 2025 alone.