JournalismPakistan.com | Published September 29, 2021
Join our WhatsApp channelBERLIN—A group of Afghan journalists and their families have safely landed in Germany from Pakistan. The journalists have been associated with the German media organization DW for a long time.
"It is a dark, chilly night at Leipzig airport and a group of DW Afghan correspondents and their families are disembarking from a long flight — and taking their first steps on German soil. It has been a long, arduous journey to get here since the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan," the DW reported.
"Among them are dozens of small children who look curiously around at the country that will be their new home, not understanding why their world has turned upside down. Even for most of the adults, the events of recent weeks make hardly any sense."
"No one expected it to happen so fast," one of the plane's passengers, Ahmed, a DW Afghan journalist, stated in the context of the Taliban's rapid advancements. He had managed to arrive in Kabul along with his wife and three young children. DW had asked all its correspondents in Afghanistan to reach the capital.
With the airport packed with people trying to leave the country, he was forced to take refuge in the basement of a factory.
"The chances of a flight out became even slimmer, and DW explored options to get correspondents safely across the land border to Pakistan. Ahmed, along with his family and another correspondent, managed to make it to the Pakistani border, thanks to the help of the German foreign ministry. But near the border he was detained by the Taliban," the DW mentioned.
According to the German media, the arrival in Germany is an emotional one. "In the last few months we've cried enough," said one DW journalist already in Germany, whose siblings and elderly father was on the plane. "We have no tears left."
The Afghan correspondents will be provided a new editorial home with DW in Bonn, Germany, and accommodation has already been arranged in cooperation with local authorities in Bonn, Cologne, and other local cities.
"The DW correspondents' work in Germany will further allow the expansion of DW's coverage of the developing situation in Afghanistan, thanks to the contacts they have in the country," the German media noted.
Photo: LinkedIn
April 30, 2025: Freedom of expression in Pakistan is under threat, as the 2025 Freedom Network report reveals increased arrests, censorship, and legal restrictions following amendments to PECA, posing serious risks to journalists and democratic values.
April 30, 2025: Dawn has criticized the Indian media's calls for war and condemned the banning of 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, urging a rational response after the Pahalgam attack that left 26 dead.
April 28, 2025: India has banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, including major news outlets and individual journalists, following the deadly Pahalgam attack. Tensions escalate as Islamabad demands a neutral probe.
April 23, 2025: Pakistani journalists respond in unison to a post hinting at a possible Indian military strike. Citing the 2019 ‘Swift Retort,’ they warn of a stronger response if provoked again.
April 21, 2025: After being expelled from PTI, MNA Sher Afzal Marwat launches personal attacks on journalists and Aleema Khan, sparking outrage on social media over his offensive remarks.
April 21, 2025: Journalist Sanaullah Khan reveals that the FIA has launched a financial crackdown on YouTubers by freezing the bank accounts of journalists and their family members—raising serious concerns over freedom of expression and legal process.
April 20, 2025: Dr. Nauman Niaz launched his fifteenth book, In A Different Realm: Story of Quadruple and Triple Centuries 1876–2025, at an elegant Islamabad event, reflecting on cricket’s rarest feats and his journey as a scholar of the game.
April 11, 2025: Sindhi journalist AD Shar was brutally murdered in Khairpur, Sindh. His body was found dumped on Handiyari Link Road. PFUJ has declared a three-day mourning period and demanded justice.
April 23, 2025 Discover Dr. Nauman Niaz’s In A Different Realm: Story of Quadruple & Triple Centuries 1876–2025, a profound exploration of cricket's most monumental innings, blending historical analysis with poetic narrative.
April 22, 2025 Once a beacon of hope for Pakistan's cricket revival, the Pakistan Super League now grapples with stagnation and moral compromises. Can this cultural symbol reclaim its lost soul?
April 21, 2025 An Italian newspaper, Il Foglio, successfully published a month-long AI-written insert and praised its irony and analytical abilities, while affirming that AI will complement—not replace—quality journalism.
April 03, 2025 The International Press Institute (IPI) and International Media Support (IMS) invite nominations for the 2025 World Press Freedom Hero and Free Media Pioneer Awards. Recognizing courageous journalists and innovative media, the awards will be presented at IPI’s 75th-anniversary World Congress in Vienna. Submit your nominations by April 30, 2025.
April 01, 2025 Photojournalist Suresh Rajak was burned alive while covering a violent protest in Kathmandu. The IFJ and its affiliates condemn the attack and call for an urgent investigation to hold the perpetrators accountable.