Pakistani police have detained three Afghan journalists in Islamabad, sources familiar with the matter said on Tuesday, amid an intensified crackdown on undocumented migrants in the capital.
The journalists were identified as Zekrullah Yazdani, Ashiqullah Jalalzai and Atiqullah Rahimi, the sources said. Police carried out the arrests in the Faisal Town area after midnight, breaking into the residence where the journalists were staying, according to the sources.
The reasons for the detentions were not immediately clear, and Pakistani police and government officials have not commented publicly on the incident.
The arrests come as Pakistani authorities have stepped up house-to-house searches in parts of Islamabad and nearby Rawalpindi as part of efforts to detain and deport undocumented Afghan nationals. In recent weeks, dozens of migrants — including journalists — have been detained and placed at risk of forced deportation.
Pakistan hosts millions of Afghan refugees and migrants, many of whom fled decades of conflict. Since late 2023, Islamabad has tightened enforcement against undocumented foreigners, prompting widespread concern from human rights groups over due process and the safety of vulnerable groups, including journalists who fear persecution if returned to Afghanistan under Taliban rule.
Press freedom organisations have repeatedly warned that Afghan journalists face serious risks if deported, citing arrests, intimidation and restrictions on media work in Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power in 2021.
