Authorities announce the deportation of 211 individuals from Afghanistan who were part of an admission program.
Pakistani authorities have been detaining and deporting over 200 Afghans who were awaiting resettlement in Germany, despite having entered the country legally and having received resettlement approval. This move comes after Pakistan stopped extending visas for these individuals [1][2][3].
Among those affected are former employees of the German development agency, GIZ, as well as vulnerable groups such as women's rights activists, LGBTQ+ individuals, and others [1][2]. The deportations have raised serious concerns, as the deportees now face threats and human rights violations under Taliban rule in Afghanistan [1].
In response, the German federal government has initiated high-level talks with Pakistani officials to protect those still awaiting relocation and to provide urgent support for those already deported. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul confirmed these diplomatic efforts [1][3][4]. Additionally, German NGOs are urging the government to expedite the resettlement program to reduce the vulnerability of Afghans stranded in Pakistan and to prevent further deportations.
Meanwhile, the screening process for over 2,000 Afghans currently undergoing a resettlement program to Germany is being conducted in Pakistan. Employees of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (Bamf) are in Pakistan to carry out the necessary checks for this process [1].
In a positive development, the German Embassy in Islamabad and the Foreign Office have secured the release of 245 of these individuals from detention centers over the weekend [1]. The screening process includes an individual assessment of each case for a legally binding obligation for admission [1].
It is important to note that Pakistani authorities have temporarily detained several Afghans with a German admission approval in the past [1]. This recent wave of deportations saw Pakistan deporting 211 people from Germany's resettlement program for at-risk Afghans to their home country in recent days [1].
A security check is conducted in every case for the Afghans undergoing the screening process in Pakistan. The process is specifically for Afghans who are former local employees or deemed particularly at risk [1]. Criticism has been raised about the length of the admission procedures in the past [1].
Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) stated last week that the screening process is ongoing [1]. The screening process is being conducted in Pakistan, as the German Embassy in Kabul closed following the Taliban's takeover in August 2021, and the screening process is being conducted in Pakistan as a result [1].
Accommodation has been organized in Afghanistan for the deportees with the help of a service provider [1]. The situation underscores the urgent need for a swift resolution to this issue, ensuring the safety and well-being of these vulnerable individuals.
- The migrants, specifically former employees of GIZ and vulnerable groups like women's rights activists, LGBTQ+ individuals, and others, are caught in a dilemma due to war-and-conflicts in Afghanistan and politics surrounding their resettlement in Germany.
- The deportation of these individuals back to Afghanistan raises concern, as they may face threats and human rights violations under Taliban rule, making it a crucial issue in the general-news.
- The crime-and-justice aspect arises with the accusations of Pakistan detaining Afghans, who entered the country legally and received resettlement approval, and subsequently deporting them, which is under investigation in the ongoing diplomatic discussions between Pakistani officials and the German federal government.
