RSF Holds Second Consultation Meeting with Afghan Journalists in Exile in Islamabad

In a continued effort to address the challenges faced by Afghan journalists in exile residing in Pakistan, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) held its second official meeting today with representatives of the Afghan journalist community in Islamabad.

During the meeting, participants were divided into four working groups to identify and categorize key problems faced by exiled Afghan journalists. The discussions focused on several pressing issues, including:

• Social and livelihood challenges confronting journalists in exile
• Delays and inefficiencies in the processing of asylum and relocation cases by UNHCR and other relevant agencies
• Difficulties in renewing Pakistani visas and obtaining third-country visas
• Strategic suggestions and solutions proposed by journalists themselves

The representatives presented their proposals and perspectives to the RSF team in a collaborative dialogue.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Iqbal Khattak, Head of RSF Pakistan, affirmed RSF’s readiness to support Afghan journalists. He praised the comprehensive action plans proposed by the journalist representatives and emphasized RSF’s commitment to advocating for solutions through appropriate channels. Khattak noted that RSF will coordinate with relevant authorities to seek actionable outcomes and stressed the urgency of organizing the next follow-up meeting as soon as possible.

Furthermore, Mr. Khattak announced the upcoming launch of RSF’s training programs, scheduled to begin by the end of the current month. In response to the overwhelming number of applications, RSF also plans to introduce an online learning platform to ensure no journalist is left behind due to logistical or geographic barriers.