Flight for survival: Keeping the flame of truth alive in the shadows of exile

By Gul Naaz

HARIPUR (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa): For budding Afghan journalist Ahmad Khaksar, journalism has been more than just a career – a lifelong commitment to giving voice to the voiceless and seeking truth in the face of adversity. His journey – from a hopeful student in Kabul to a refugee journalist in Pakistan – reveals the immense struggle, sacrifices and resilience required to pursue his profession.

Living in a refugee camp in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Haripur district, Khaksar’s story is one of survival and unwavering dedication to his profession.

“Each and every step I took on the path to seek education was filled with challenges,” he says. “But I firmly believe that seeking knowledge is the ultimate and true form of freedom.”

A native of Logar province, Khaksar is the only one among 30 family members to earn a university degree, graduating in journalism from Kabul University. He is the only child of his family to have fulfilled his dream of higher education. He began his career covering sports events for radio in Kabul, determined to make a mark in Afghanistan’s media landscape.

Soon his work started to earn him a growing reputation and a sense of purpose. But in 2021, the Taliban’s return to power abruptly halted those ambitions. The fall of Kabul not only marked a shift in his life, but also silenced an entire generation.

With independent media outlets shut down and journalists facing threats, Khaksar – like many of his countrymen – was forced to flee for survival and truth.

Crossing the border into Pakistan without legal documentation, Khaksar entered a new chapter of life marked by uncertainty, fear and economic hardships.

“Leaving my country was one of the most painful decisions I’ve ever made in life,” he recalls.

Initially, he took a job as a schoolteacher in the refugee camp, earning a meager salary of Rs 3,000 per month. Like many Afghan refugees, he faced barriers in accessing employment and educational opportunities. Yet, despite these challenges, his passion for journalism never wavered.

With the help of friends and well-wishers, Khaksar eventually connected with the Tribal News Network (TNN), a media organization based in Pakistan. This opportunity marked his return to journalism and reignited the sense of purpose he feared he had lost.

Later, he participated in a professional training program with FM 88.6 Radio in Pakistan, which he describes as a transformative step in his career. The program not only refined his professional skills but also strengthened his resolve to continue his work, even in exile.

“The people of Pakistan treated me with kindness and respect,” he says. “At times, I couldn’t tell whether I was in a foreign land or my own. I will always remember their generosity.”

Yet even now, Khaksar’s future remains uncertain. Pakistan’s recent decision to deport Afghan refugees has cast a long shadow over his life. The fear of being forced to return to a country where journalism is treated as a crime haunts him daily.

“I can endure the difficulties of being a refugee,” he says. “But I don’t know what returning to Afghanistan would mean for me. I am a journalist. But, in our society today, journalism is considered a crime.”

Despite the threat of deportation, Khaksar remains committed to his mission. His story is not an isolated one. It represents the plight of thousands of Afghans who were silenced, displaced, and forced to abandon their homeland, but who still hold on to the hope of returning one day to a freer, more open society.

“Challenges are not meant to break us,” he says. “They are meant to make us stronger.”

Ahmad Khaksar’s life stands as a powerful reminder of the enduring human spirit – the refusal to surrender in the face of repression, and the belief that even after the darkest nights, dawn will come. He sees light at the end of the tunnel. His voice, and those of countless others like him, continues to echo across borders, refusing to be silenced. He is determined to keep the flame of truth alive – even in exile.