Pakistani police arrested Afghan journalist Seyed Qasim Hashemi on the Abbottabad-Islamabad highway on Thursday, 29 May 2025, at approximately 12:19 pm, according to sources familiar with the incident. Authorities have not issued any statement explaining the grounds for his arrest or disclosing his current whereabouts.

What Is Known About the Arrest

Hashemi was detained by Pakistani authorities while travelling on the Abbottabad-Islamabad highway, according to reports citing sources close to the matter. His exact place of detention remains unknown. Colleagues and acquaintances attempting to establish contact or obtain information about his condition have so far been unsuccessful.

Pattern of Arrests Targeting Afghan Journalists

The arrest is not an isolated incident. On 20 May 2025, Pakistani police detained Afghan journalist Parwiz Aminzada in the Faisal Town area of Islamabad during ongoing enforcement operations against Afghan nationals. In recent months, Pakistani authorities have sharply escalated arrests and deportations of Afghan refugees — including journalists — as part of a broader crackdown on undocumented immigrants, drawing sustained criticism from human rights organisations.

The Broader Crisis Facing Afghan Refugees in Pakistan

After the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in 2021, hundreds of Afghan journalists fled the country, fearing retaliation, censorship, and restrictions on independent media. Many relocated to neighbouring countries, including Pakistan and Iran, while awaiting resettlement in Western nations.

On 8 May 2025, the Afghanistan Media Support Organisation (AMSO) reported that Afghan refugees in Pakistan have been subjected to arbitrary arrests, mistreatment, extortion, and the threat of forced deportation. According to the AMSO report, more than 3.4 million Afghan migrants have been deported from Pakistan and Iran combined since 2023.

Key Findings From the AMSO Report

The AMSO report, prepared jointly with the World Organisation Against Torture and presented to the United Nations Committee Against Torture, documented severe conditions. Among surveyed Afghan nationals, 68.3% said they had been arrested or imprisoned, while 96.4% of detainees reported facing abuse during arrest or detention. Additionally, 85.7% said they were forced to pay money to avoid arrest or secure release, and 72.4% were held for more than 48 hours without judicial review. The findings were drawn from a survey of 41 Afghan nationals, six in-depth interviews, and documentation from organisations including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Amnesty International, and the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan. Critically, the AMSO noted that none of the deported individuals received an individual risk assessment before being expelled from Pakistan.

Rights Groups Sound the Alarm

Human rights organisations have repeatedly raised concerns over Pakistan's treatment of Afghan asylum seekers and journalists. Critics argue that the mass deportations and detentions violate international refugee protection norms, particularly given the well-documented dangers facing those returned to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. With Hashemi's case unresolved and no official explanation forthcoming, press freedom advocates are expected to intensify pressure on Pakistani authorities for transparency.