Pakistani authorities detained an Afghan journalist in the capital on Thursday evening, sources said as Pakistan intensifies its campaign of arrests and deportations targeting undocumented Afghan nationals.
Local sources said Jaafar Niazi was taken into custody around 7 p.m. local time in the Faisal Town area of Islamabad. Witnesses reported that he was walking home from a mosque when he was approached and arrested by police.
Niazi previously worked with several media outlets, including Radio Dunya and Kehkashan in Parwan Province, and has collaborated with international media support organizations, including the International Media Support (IMS), sources familiar with his background said.
According to the sources, police cited an expired residency visa as the reason for his arrest. Pakistani authorities have significantly tightened enforcement of immigration laws in recent weeks, amid a sweeping campaign to expel undocumented Afghans from the country.
In July, Pakistan’s government suspended the extension of visas for most Afghan nationals, leaving thousands of asylum seekers and former media workers without legal status. Since the beginning of November, the crackdown has accelerated, with authorities deporting more than 10,000 Afghans per day, according to officials on both sides of the border.
The United Nations and international human rights groups have raised concerns about the ongoing expulsions, warning that the return of Afghans — many of whom fled Taliban rule or had worked in vulnerable roles such as journalism — could lead to grave risks, including persecution.
Niazi’s current legal status and whereabouts remain unclear. Pakistani police have not made any public statement regarding his detention.
