The adventure to Pakistan via Torkham turned into an incredibly tough one, with lifestyles-threatening moments alongside the way. I needed to hide my identity so no person might recognize me, says Afghan journalist Muzdalfa Kakr. She stocks that after a difficult adventure, she arrived in Pakistan on December 7, 2022. Muzdalfa Kakr explains that when the Taliban came to strength, life became insufferable for ladies like her, who have been related to media or worldwide NGOs in Afghanistan. Despite having a visa, achieving Pakistan was nonetheless a difficult project for her. The hardships of the journey had been one issue, but even after arriving in Pakistan, she did no longer discover peace. She confronted various problems, and she says, “We, as reporters, had been stuck in a unusual predicament, unable to go back to Afghanistan or live peacefully here.” Muzdalfa similarly mentions that, besides security issues, she also confronted monetary struggles. In Pakistan, there are nearly no job possibilities for Afghan journalists, which has led them to stand financial hardships. Life will become very challenging whilst there may be no paintings in a overseas land. After the Taliban regained manipulate in August 2021, not only had been women in Afghanistan disadvantaged of schooling, but they were also banned from running. The Taliban closed the media doors for girls and informed them now not to appear on TV displays. Many girl journalists even started out receiving direct threats, which pressured many to leave the u . S . And their jobs. Most of these girls fled to Pakistan, and some have already moved to other international locations, whilst others still are living here. “What can we do if we are expelled from Pakistan?” Muzdalfa Kakr, who is living in Islamabad, says she desires to move to a country wherein her primary human rights are respected. She shared that every time the Pakistani authorities troubles time limits for Afghan refugees to leave the usa, it instills worry in them, as they do not know where they would move, thinking about their lives are at danger in Afghanistan. Despite the passage of time, their struggles have now not eased. Currently, one of the major troubles Afghan female journalists face is the slow processing of their visas, leading to mental distress. Despite the lengthy wait, many reporters are nevertheless hoping that their visa packages may be processed so that you can move to a peaceful usa. There are approximately 500 Afghan reporters living in Pakistan, according to Afghan reporters, though details on how many are girl are not available. These reporters often live in Peshawar and Islamabad. Mina Akbari is another Afghan female journalist. Like Muzdalfa Kakr, Mina also moved from Afghanistan to Pakistan after the Taliban got here to power. She lived in Peshawar for some time but later settled in Islamabad. Mina Akbari, too, wants to shift to a rustic where she can lead a non violent existence and is waiting for her visa to be processed so she will be able to go away. Minimal Job Opportunities for Afghan Journalists in Pakistan Speaking approximately the problems confronted via Afghan refugees, especially Afghan woman journalists, in Pakistan, Mina Akbari shared that Afghan reporters are already in problem in their domestic country, however after they migrate to another usa, their difficulties multiply. Mina Akbari explained that she has been residing in Pakistan for almost three years and has faced many problems. “All Afghan newshounds who’ve come right here are facing difficulties in finding work. Some are operating online, however maximum are unemployed. Afghan reporters have nearly no job opportunities in Pakistani media institutions,” Mina Akbari said. Mina Akbari in addition explained that Afghan refugees face difficulties not simplest in locating jobs however also in beginning groups. It will become very hard to set up a commercial enterprise here. The maximum urgent difficulty for Afghan reporters is the difficulty in obtaining visas. Mina Akbari is anticipating her visa in Islamabad, hoping to depart for every other united states. When and How Did Afghan Refugees Begin Arriving in Pakistan? The arrival of Afghan refugees in Pakistan started out in 1979, after the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), by way of 1981, the quantity of refugees had reached 2 million, and by 1990, it had increased to a few.2 million. Even after the Soviet withdrawal, at some point of Afghanistan’s civil battle inside the Nineties, refugees continued to come to Pakistan. After the U.S. Invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, the whole quantity of Afghan refugees in Pakistan surpassed five million. After the primary Taliban regime fell in 2002, around 1.5 million Afghans returned to Afghanistan, and by 2012, this variety had decreased to two.7 million. Over the subsequent decade, more Afghan citizens periodically again to their united states of america. Following the re-status quo of Taliban rule in Afghanistan in 2021, around seven hundred,000 Afghans sought shelter in Pakistan. According to the 2023 census, the variety of Afghans dwelling in Pakistan, such as Islamabad, is 1.92 million, with 939,878 living in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 310,832 in Punjab, and one hundred forty five,875 in Sindh. The province of Balochistan hosts 474,812, and fifty two,056 stay in Islamabad. According to UNHCR statistics, the entire quantity of unlawful Afghan refugees in Pakistan is round four.23 million, with fifty two.6% in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 24.1% in Balochistan, 14.3% in Punjab, 5.Five% in Sindh, 3.1% in Islamabad, and zero.Three% in Azad Kashmir. Afghan Journalists Struggling to Find Rental Homes Muska Safi, affiliated with an global organization in Peshawar, shared that Afghan journalists who migrated to Pakistan face numerous challenges. These newshounds have been active of their domestic us of a but, once they migrate, they may be treated as refugees. “Afghan journalists here do now not obtain salaries or work. They face protection troubles, with police coming and taking them away. They cannot locate apartment houses here, and they also face fitness troubles,” Muska Safi said. Muska Safi, who has stated notably on the problems confronted by way of Afghan reporters, defined that Afghan reporters can not preserve their paintings on line due to protection troubles and restrictions on their freedom of work. According to the statistics from the Freedom Network, around 250 Afghan newshounds migrated to Pakistan, and most have now moved to america and Europe, though a few are nevertheless expecting their visas. Visa Issues Gohar Ali Khan, Coordinator of the Freedom Network for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and a senior journalist, stated that Afghan journalists in Pakistan had fundamental troubles with the expiration in their visas. Many in their visas had expired, and there has been a fear of being deported from Pakistan. However, via the efforts of the Freedom Network, they have been allowed to live. Gohar Ali Khan introduced that many Afghan newshounds, which include ladies, are nonetheless residing in Islamabad and Peshawar due to the fact their cases are behind schedule at embassies, stopping them from traveling to different countries. They are unwilling to return to Afghanistan due to safety risks. “Visa renewal fe
