Pakistan Arrests Additional Afghans from Settlement Initiatives - Pakistan arrests additional Afghans from admissions processes
In the bustling city of Islamabad, hundreds of Afghan refugees continue to reside in makeshift shelters, such as Argentina Park, awaiting their departure to either Germany or Afghanistan. Their relocation prospects, however, have significantly diminished due to tightened immigration policies in Pakistan and third countries, including Germany and the United States.
The Pakistani government has extended the deadline for the deportation of millions of Afghan refugees to September 1, 2025. This extension has raised concerns by the United Nations (UN) about potential forced returns that may violate international protection principles. The government has implemented a "grace period" allowing voluntary return to Afghanistan until August 31, after which detained Afghans may face arrest and forced deportation.
As of now, approximately 1.4 million Afghan refugees are registered with the UNHCR in Pakistan, holding Proof of Residence cards. However, Pakistan is no longer reissuing these cards and is targeting undocumented individuals with Afghan Citizen Cards for deportation. Many Afghans who fled after the Taliban takeover in 2021, including women formerly in Afghan police service, remain in protracted displacement with little prospect of third-country resettlement or safe return.
The current situation is one of uncertainty and stalled movement. Many Afghans in Islamabad find themselves detained or effectively trapped due to both Pakistani policies and international shifts in refugee admissions.
Recent events have further complicated the situation. On Friday, 42 Afghans were taken into custody at an inn in Pakistan, facing potential deportation to Afghanistan. Over 2,000 Afghans are currently waiting in Pakistan as part of various admission programs for departure to Germany.
These Afghans, who are former local staff or considered particularly at risk, have been detained by the authorities in Islamabad. There has been repeated criticism that the admission procedures are taking too long. In the past few days, more than 100 Afghans awaiting departure to Germany have been detained and taken to a deportation center in Islamabad.
Organizations such as Pro Asyl and the Sponsorship Network Local Staff have reportedly filed a criminal complaint against Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) and Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) for allowing the detention and deportation of Afghans with admission approval. According to dpa information, 35 of the detained Afghans have already been deported to Afghanistan.
The Taliban have been in power in Afghanistan for four years, and the Pakistani authorities have temporarily detained several Afghans with admission approval for Germany in recent months. Since the German embassy in Kabul has been closed since August 2021, they are undergoing a screening process in Pakistan.
The federal government is in high-level contact with the Pakistani government to ensure the protection of these people and to help those who were either deported or arrested in the last few days as quickly as possible. A resident reported that he was separated from his wife and four children, who were also detained. The whereabouts of the detained Afghans' families remain unknown.
As the deadline for deportation approaches, the uncertainty and fear for the future of these Afghan refugees continue to grow. The international community is urged to intervene and ensure the safety and rights of these vulnerable individuals.
- The tightened employment policies in EC countries, particularly Germany, are increasingly affecting the job prospects of Afghan refugees in Pakistan, as they struggle to secure third-country resettlement or safe return.
- The ongoing detentions and potential deportations of Afghans with admission approval for Germany highlight the need for a comprehensive review of the employment policies in the general-news sphere, focusing on the treatment and protection of refugees and asylum seekers.
