At a press conference on October 3, caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti ordered the exodus of all undocumented immigrants and refugees in Pakistan by November 1, threatening to use either provincial or federal law enforcement agencies to ensure the deportation of those failing to abide by the order. The announcement was met with appeals from the United Nations (UN) and the International Organisation for Migration, outlining the grave risks facing those compelled to return to Afghanistan amid the country’s ongoing ‘severe humanitarian crisis’.
At least 200 Afghan journalists are currently refugees in Pakistan, forced to flee the Taliban’s crackdown on press freedom, including draconian restrictions on women journalists, shuttering of media houses, and rampant censorship. Many face barriers to visa renewal, employment, and basic food and shelter, relying on family, declining personal resources, or temporary support from non-government organisations while awaiting relocation to third countries.
Since the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, over 1,600,000 Afghans have sought refuge in the neighbouring nations of Pakistan, Iran, and Tajikistan, with over 70 per cent being women and children. The latest figures from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimate that over 3,700,000 Afghans currently reside in Pakistan, with only 1,330,000 registered as refugees.
Pakistan is not a signatory to the UNRefugee Convention and lacks a national asylum system. The UN’s contractee for refugee registration, the Society for Human Rights and Prisoners' Aid (SHARP) has been criticised for its protracted administrative processes, leaving many in Pakistan without a way to attain protection or the required documentation. The visas of many refugees who initially held regular entry permits have now expired.
In response to the new order, the Federation of Afghanistan Journalists in Exile (FAJE), a newly formed organisation advocating for journalists in Afghanistan and the diaspora, called on the United Nations, Pakistani authorities, and international organisations to increase support measures for Afghan journalists in exile, cease the arrests and abuse in custody by law enforcement, and raised concerns over the wellbeing of journalists and trade unionists deported to Afghanistan.
Recent months have seen multiple arrest and deportation efforts targeting Afghan refugees in Pakistan. The most recent crackdown resulted in the arrest and detention of more than 250 undocumented Afghan refugees and migrants in Sindh Province, with Taliban officials claiming over 1,000 Afghans had been arrested over the past two weeks. Pakistan has claimed the deportations will address safety and security concerns, which they allege have been partially caused by Afghan refugees.
In August, the IFJ and the PFUJ established two solidarity centres in Islamabad to aid Afghan journalists, supported by UNESCO. These centres provide emergency housing, legal and psychological support, and basic needs, with one centre exclusively for women journalists.
The AIJU said:“With the change of the system and the existence of bad unemployment and great economic problems, including the closure of the media, a large number of our media employees left Afghanistan and became refugees in different countries; between 250 and 300 journalists have applied for asylum in different countries. Currently, they live in uncertainty with their families. Their relatives live in the cities of Pakistan. Our expectation from the authorities of our friendly and neighbouring country Pakistan is to create a safe environment for the temporary life of Afghan media workers to prevent them from being harassed or deported.”
The ANJU said, “ANJU strongly condemns the forced eviction of Afghan refugees in Pakistan, particularly Afghan journalists and media workers who have already faced immense challenges in their pursuit of reporting the truth. We call upon the Pakistani government to reconsider this decision and continue to provide a safe haven for Afghan journalists and media professionals who have sought refuge within its borders. Furthermore, we urge the United Nations and international organisations to step in and support Afghan refugees, with a particular focus on safeguarding the rights and security of Afghan journalists and media workers during this critical time."
The PFUJ said: “PFUJ has urged the Government of Pakistan to revisit its decision about Afghan citizens. Peaceful and legally living Afghans should be allowed to continue their stay in Pakistan on humanitarian grounds.”
The IFJ said:“While the IFJ acknowledges Pakistan's historic support for Afghan refugees, including many of the nation’s journalists and media workers who have fought to maintain a free and informed society, now is the time to extend and amplify these measures to ensure the safety, dignity, and rights of all Afghans in exile. Journalists who are forced to return to Afghanistan may face arrests, detentions, or worse upon their return, and the Pakistani government must immediately reconsider its imminent expulsion order that will have a dire impact on all in the growing Afghan diaspora. International governments and civil society organisations must also provide additional support, increase humanitarian intakes, and expedite immigration processes to allow for Afghan refugees in Pakistan to resettle swiftly and safely.”