Pakistani authorities on Monday detained Zahra Shams, an Afghan journalist living in Pakistan, along with members of her family, according to sources familiar with the case.
In a phone call with Amu TV, Ms. Shams confirmed her detention and said that her relatives had also been taken into custody. She stated that they are now facing the possibility of forced deportation to Afghanistan.
The circumstances surrounding the arrest remain unclear, and Pakistani authorities have not commented publicly on the incident.
The arrest comes amid growing concern among Afghan refugees, particularly journalists, who say they risk persecution if returned to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. Several Afghan journalists previously detained in Pakistan have said that deportation would expose them to threats and potential retaliation from the Taliban due to their reporting.
Pakistan has stepped up deportations of undocumented Afghans in recent months, prompting criticism from human rights groups and press freedom organizations, which have warned of the dangers Afghan media workers face upon return.
