Afghans Apprehended in Pakistan, Possessing German Reception Documents
In a troubling turn of events, Afghans with valid German resettlement approvals are finding themselves in the crosshairs of Pakistan's immigration policies. Hundreds of these individuals, including former employees of German institutions, human rights defenders, women's rights activists, and members of the LGBTQ+ community, are being detained and, in some cases, deported to Afghanistan.
The situation arises from Pakistan's decision to halt visa extensions and enforce a broader refugee deportation drive, which began late in 2023. Many of the deported Afghans had legally held visas that they had regularly renewed until Pakistan stopped extending them.
The detainees include individuals who had been approved for resettlement under Germany's program, numbering around 2,400. However, since the change of government in Germany, the resettlement process has effectively been suspended, leaving these individuals stranded in Pakistan without timely relocation.
Pakistani authorities have been conducting raids in Islamabad and other areas, arresting entire families and sending many to deportation centers or back to Afghanistan. Reports suggest that Pakistani security forces are using violence, and families are being separated during these operations.
The German government is currently in diplomatic talks with Pakistan to secure the return of deported Afghans and to protect those still awaiting resettlement. Activists and human rights groups have appealed to Germany to accelerate relocation efforts to prevent further deportations and protect vulnerable Afghans.
The UN has warned that Afghans forcibly returned to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan face severe human rights abuses. Reporters Without Borders reported a case of a journalist with resettlement approval, along with his family members, being taken to a deportation camp in Pakistan on Wednesday.
Kabul Airlift, an organisation working to help Afghans, has called for the immediate issuance of visas for the affected people. The organisation has also reported cases of people being forced to return to Afghanistan.
The German Embassy in Islamabad acknowledges its inability to effectively protect the affected people. The new coalition government of Union and SPD was involved in halting the resettlement programs.
In light of these developments, it is crucial that the German government expedites the resettlement process to ensure the safety and well-being of these individuals. The mass deportations of Afghans should not target people with German resettlement approval, and every effort should be made to prevent further human rights abuses.
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