Arrested Afghans in Pakistan Found with German Reception Permit
German Resettlement Suspension Leaves Afghan Refugees Vulnerable in Pakistan
A new development has emerged in the ongoing saga of Afghan refugees seeking asylum in Germany. The suspension of admission programs by the new coalition government of Union and SPD, led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, has not been previously mentioned [1]. This decision, part of a stricter immigration policy, has left over 2,400 Afghans stranded and vulnerable to police crackdowns by Pakistani authorities [2].
These Afghans had been offered asylum by Germany, mainly those who had worked with German institutions or faced threats from the Taliban, including journalists and human rights activists, under special admission programs [3]. However, the suspension of these programs has left many waiting in Pakistan for visas in limbo [1][2].
The intensified efforts by Pakistan to enforce immigration control and deport undocumented or stateless Afghans have resulted in numerous arrests, including those registered under the German resettlement programs [2][3]. The recent raids and arrests reflect a new scale of crackdown, with guesthouses housing Afghan families waiting for German visas being targeted [1][2].
The detained Afghans, despite their approval for resettlement in Germany, have been taken to detention centers in Islamabad [4]. Some have already been deported to Afghanistan, while others fear further arrests and have packed their bags, preparing to leave their temporary homes [5].
German diplomats, officials, and employees of the Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit are working to persuade Pakistani government authorities not to deport the detained Afghans with admission offers [6]. The German government's suspension and slow visa processing have contributed to the precarious position of these Afghans, who had hoped for safe passage but were instead left exposed to Pakistan's deportation policies [3][4].
The timeline of the suspension of the admission programs by the German government began in May [7]. It's important to note that approximately 350 former local staff of German institutions, along with their families, are among the Afghans with admission offers [8].
Sources:
- taz
- Welt
- Deutsche Presse-Agentur
- Kabul Air Bridge
- Federal Foreign Office and Federal Ministry of the Interior
- Reuters
- Der Spiegel
- Federal Ministry of the Interior
The suspension of German resettlement programs by the new government, led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, has plunged politics into a contentious sphere, with implications for the general news landscape, as Afghans waiting for visas in Pakistan face increased vulnerability to police crackdowns.
As Pakistani authorities enforce stricter immigration control, the intensified raids and arrests of Afghans, including those registered under the German resettlement programs, highlight the profound impact of Germany's immigration policy on the safety and well-being of refugees.
