RASC News Agency: The Afghanistani Journalists’ Protection Organization has issued an urgent call for an immediate halt to the arbitrary detention and harassment of Afghanistani journalists in Pakistan. In a strongly worded statement, the organization condemned the recent arrest of Afghanistani journalist Mahmood Kochi and his son by Pakistani authorities on March 28, denouncing it as a grave violation of press freedom and fundamental human rights. The organization underscored the necessity of legal safeguards for journalists lacking official documentation, stressing that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) must ensure their protection. It further emphasized that when Afghanistani journalists encounter legal obstacles in foreign countries such as Pakistan, international bodies must step in to provide effective solutions that uphold their rights and security.
Additionally, the organization urged the global community, including international human rights institutions, to take immediate action to safeguard Afghanistani journalists in Pakistan and guarantee their fundamental rights. This urgent appeal comes amid growing alarm over the worsening conditions for Afghanistani journalists in Pakistan, with reports indicating a sharp increase in arbitrary arrests in recent months. Pakistan has repeatedly detained Afghanistani journalists, often citing a lack of legal documentation or other unspecified reasons, prompting widespread concern among media organizations and human rights advocates. This crisis has intensified in the aftermath of Kabul’s fall in 2021 and the Taliban’s resurgence, exacerbating threats to Afghanistani journalists seeking refuge in neighboring countries like Pakistan.
Given the mounting political and security pressures, international support for Afghanistani journalists has become more critical than ever particularly in frontline states where they remain highly vulnerable to persecution, arbitrary detention, and systemic oppression.
