Amnesty International has called on Pakistani authorities to urgently investigate the disappearance of Afghan journalist Sayed Qasim Hashemi and artist Hamed Ehsas, both of whom have been missing from Islamabad since 4 July 2026, and to inform their families of their whereabouts and condition.

What Amnesty International Said

In a formal statement, Amnesty International described the circumstances as raising 'concerns that they may have been subjected to enforced disappearance or arbitrary detention.' The rights group stated that Pakistani authorities have a legal obligation to investigate the case and disclose the men's fate to their families.

'Journalist Sayed Qasim Hashemi and artist Hamed Ehsas, both Afghan nationals who fled Afghanistan immediately after the Taliban takeover, fearing threats to their lives due to the nature of their work, have been missing since July 4 in Islamabad,' the organisation said.

How the Two Men Disappeared

According to their families, Hashemi and Ehsas left their homes together on 4 July to purchase camera lens equipment and did not return. Their vehicle was later traced via GPS to a location in Islamabad, but neither man was found in or near it. Family members have since approached both police and judicial authorities in Pakistan, reportedly receiving no clear information about the two men.

Pakistani police have refused to register cases regarding what families describe as an abduction, compounding the distress of those searching for the men.

Background: Afghan Refugees Without Legal Status

Both men had entered Pakistan with their families after the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan in 2021. According to their families, they were living in Pakistan without legal residency documentation at the time of their disappearance. Their cases come amid a broader and intensifying Pakistani government crackdown on undocumented foreign nationals — particularly Afghan nationals — that has included mass arrests and deportations in recent months.

Notably, Hashemi and Ehsas had originally fled Afghanistan because the nature of their work — journalism and the arts — made them targets under the Taliban regime. The enforced return or detention of such individuals could amount to a serious human rights violation under international law, critics argue.

What Happens Next

Amnesty International has not specified a deadline for Pakistani authorities to act, but the call carries the weight of international scrutiny at a time when Pakistan is already under pressure over its treatment of Afghan refugees. The families continue to urge authorities to provide any credible information about the two men's safety and location. The case is likely to attract further attention from international human rights bodies if Pakistani authorities do not respond.