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November 25, 2025 – Afghanistan/Pakistan –
Afghan journalist Noorullah Akbari was arrested by Pakistani police on November 23, 2025, in the Faisal Town neighborhood of Islamabad, according to multiple media-rights sources. He was subsequently transferred to a temporary holding center known as “Haji Camp,” where migrants are often detained before deportation.
This arrest appears to be part of a broader crackdown on Afghan migrants and refugees in Pakistan, a campaign that has significantly intensified in recent months. The sweep has targeted not only undocumented migrants but also Afghan media workers, raising serious concerns about the safety and rights of journalists abroad. According to advocacy groups, the crackdown has included the detention of other Afghan journalists — such as Jafar Niazi — as visa renewals have been suspended en masse.
Organizations supporting media freedom are urging Pakistani authorities to stop using Afghan journalists as instruments in political and immigration enforcement efforts. They have underlined that many of these journalists fled Afghanistan after the return of the Taliban — and that deporting them back could expose them to persecution or worse.
Advocates warn this crackdown risks extinguishing independent journalism among the Afghan diaspora and silencing voices critical of both Pakistani policies and the situation in Afghanistan. With visa suspensions, detentions, and deportations increasingly common, many Afghan journalists now face an uncertain future, stripped of both sanctuary and professional safety.
The international community’s attention is being drawn to the urgency of protecting journalists: those who fled repression at home and now find themselves under threat in exile deserve haven and continued freedom to report. Without immediate safeguards and fair legal treatment, the crackdown against Afghan media workers in Pakistan could mark a significant blow to press freedom in the region.
Reference –
Pakistani Police Detain Afghan Journalist in Islamabad Amid Crackdown
