ISLAMABAD: Journalists covering Pakistan’s July 25 general election may face physical aggression, and the possibility of terrorist attacks cannot be ruled out, said the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an independent press freedom advocacy organization.
The US-based watchdog issued safety guidelines for journalists covering the election, particularly political rallies.
“Plan the assignment and ensure that you have a full battery on your cell phone. Know the area you are going to. Work out in advance what you would do in an emergency,” the CPJ advised.
“Always try to work with a colleague and have a regular check-in procedure with your base — particularly when covering rallies or crowd events… Identify an escape route and have a team emergency meeting point,” it said.
“If aggression increases, keep a hand free to protect your head and move with short, deliberate steps to avoid falling. If in a team, stick together and link arms,” it added.
“While documenting aggression can sometimes be crucial journalistic work, be aware of the situation and your safety. Taking pictures of aggressive individuals can escalate a situation.”
The number of terrorist attacks in Pakistan has been declining, but journalists should be prepared to avoid any situation, the CPJ said.
“Events can happen very quickly, and the mood of a crowd can change in an instant. Remain alert and prepared to move at all times,” it added.
“Crowds can pose a threat to journalists reporting on an attack. Try to remain on the edge of crowds, and be aware that they can turn hostile.”
The CPJ also warned that online abuse and trolling of journalists may increase during election coverage.
“You can protect your accounts from hacking by creating long and strong passwords and by turning on 2-factor verification,” it said.
“Review your privacy settings and make sure any information that you do not want available to the public is either hidden or removed.”
Journalists covering Pakistan election advised to take precautions
Journalists covering Pakistan election advised to take precautions
- CPJ said in its advisory that terrorist attacks in Pakistan have been declining but such incidents cannot be ruled out
- Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) on July 5 launched “Press Freedom Movement”
Pakistan says responding to Afghan ‘offensive operations’ after border fire as tensions escalate
- Afghan Taliban spokesperson says “large-scale offensive operations” launched against Pakistani military bases
- Pakistan says Afghan forces opened “unprovoked” fire across multiple sectors along shared border
ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities said on Thursday they had launched “large-scale offensive operations” against Pakistani military bases and installations, prompting Pakistan to say its forces were responding to what it described as unprovoked fire along the shared border.
The escalation follows Islamabad’s weekend airstrikes targeting what it said were Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Daesh militant camps inside Afghanistan in response to a wave of recent bombings and attacks in Pakistan. Islamabad said the strikes killed over 100 militants, while Kabul said dozens of civilians were killed and condemned the attacks as a violation of its sovereignty.
In a post on social media platform X, Afghan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said Afghanistan had launched “large-scale offensive operations” in response to repeated violations by the Pakistani military.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Information said Afghan forces had initiated hostilities along multiple points of the frontier.
“Afghan Taliban regime unprovoked action along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border given an immediate, and effective response,” the ministry said in a statement.
The statement said Pakistani forces were targeting Taliban positions in the Chitral, Khyber, Mohmand, Kurram and Bajaur sectors, claiming heavy Afghan casualties and the destruction of multiple posts and equipment. It added that Pakistan would take all necessary measures to safeguard its territorial integrity and the security of its citizens.
Separately, security officials said Pakistani forces had carried out counterattacks in several border sectors.
“Pakistan’s security forces are giving a befitting reply to the unprovoked Afghan aggression with full force,” a security official said, declining to be named.
“The Pakistani security forces’ counter-attack destroyed Taliban’s hideouts and the Khawarij fled,” they added, referring to TTP militants.
The claims from both sides could not be independently verified.
Cross-border violence has intensified in recent weeks, with Pakistan blaming a surge in suicide bombings and militant attacks on militants it says are based in Afghanistan. Kabul denies providing safe havens to anti-Pakistan militant groups.
The clashes mark the third major escalation between the neighbors in less than a year. Similar Pakistani strikes last year triggered weeklong clashes before Qatar, Türkiye and other regional actors mediated a ceasefire in October.
The 2,600-kilometer (1,600-mile) frontier, a key trade and transit corridor linking Pakistan to landlocked Afghanistan and onward to Central Asia, has faced repeated closures amid tensions, disrupting commerce and humanitarian movement. Trade between the two nations has remained closed since October 2025.
