According to a media report, Ahmad, an Afghan journalist who relocated to Islamabad due to threats from the Taliban, has been living there for around 10 months. He and many other Afghan journalists had to purchase Pakistani visas for $1,200 to escape Afghanistan. However, their visas have now expired, and their attempts to extend them have gone unrequited. The only option to renew their visas seems to involve paying bribes, which is challenging due to their financial constraints. Ahmad has even witnessed another journalist resorting to bribery to address their visa issues but can't provide further details due to safety concerns. This situation highlights the difficult and precarious circumstances Afghan journalists face in seeking refuge and continuing their work.
Date: April 10, 2023
Source: cpj.org
According to a media report, Ahmad, an Afghan journalist who relocated to Islamabad due to threats from the Taliban, has been living there for around 10 months. He and many other Afghan journalists had to purchase Pakistani visas for $1,200 to escape Afghanistan. However, their visas have now expired, and their attempts to extend them have gone unrequited. The only option to renew their visas seems to involve paying bribes, which is challenging due to their financial constraints. Ahmad has even witnessed another journalist resorting to bribery to address their visa issues but can't provide further details due to safety concerns. This situation highlights the difficult and precarious circumstances Afghan journalists face in seeking refuge and continuing their work.
Date: April 10, 2023
Source: cpj.org