Pakistan arrests more Afghans from acceptance schemes
Pakistan is currently in the midst of a controversial mass deportation of Afghan refugees, despite concerns from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and international bodies. The deportations, which began ahead of a September 1 deadline, are affecting even those Afghans who hold Proof of Registration (PoR) cards and are legally registered in the country[1][3].
Arrests and Deportations
Hundreds of Afghans enrolled in foreign resettlement programs, including those approved to travel to Germany under a special admission program for at-risk Afghans, have reportedly been arrested by Pakistani police[3][4]. Of the approximately 450 Afghans linked to Germany’s resettlement scheme detained, at least 211 have been deported to Afghanistan despite German appeals for their return[4]. These arrests and deportations have continued even during Pakistani national holidays, reflecting the government's firm stance on repatriation[3].
German Intervention
Germany’s admission program for vulnerable Afghans in Pakistan, initiated under former Chancellor Olaf Scholz, was suspended following the election of a center-right coalition headed by Chancellor Friedrich Merz in May 2025[3][4]. The German government is actively engaged in discussions with Islamabad concerning the fate of Afghans approved for resettlement but caught amid these deportations[3][4].
German officials have publicly urged Pakistan to allow deported Afghans accepted under their program to return, while legal actions within Germany target ministers over the suspension and apparent abandonment of these vulnerable individuals[4]. Organizations Pro Asyl and the Sponsorship Network Local Forces have also filed a criminal complaint against Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) and Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) in response to these developments[5].
Ongoing Humanitarian Concerns
The UNHCR has strongly urged Pakistan to exempt vulnerable Afghans—including students, those with medical needs, and individuals in mixed marriages—from forced returns and to extend PoR card validity for a gradual, dignified repatriation process[1]. There are ongoing humanitarian concerns about the suddenness and scale of the deportations potentially violating international protection principles like non-refoulement[1][2].
In addition, more than 2,000 Afghans are currently waiting in Pakistan as part of various admission programs for a departure to Germany[6]. The arrested Afghans, including those undergoing a screening process in Pakistan, face deportation to Afghanistan[7]. This includes a resident who was separated from his wife and four children by the police[8].
Authorities' Response
Pakistani authorities have temporarily arrested several Afghans with a German admission promise in the past months[9]. Interior Minister Wadephul has promised swift help from the federal government to ensure the protection of these people and to help those who were either deported or arrested in the last few days[10]. The people in the deportation center are to be taken to the border town of Peshawar in a few days[11].
It is important to note that the Taliban have been in power in Afghanistan for four years[12]. The German embassy in Kabul has been closed since the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban in August 2021[13].
In summary, while Pakistan officially exempts legally registered Afghans from the mass deportations, enforcement has extended to many documented refugees, including those with pending resettlement in Germany. German authorities remain involved diplomatically and legally but face challenges due to policy changes and Pakistan’s intensified repatriation efforts[1][2][3][4].
The arrests and deportations of Afghans, even those with Proof of Registration (PoR) cards and approved for resettlement in Germany, highlight the intersection of general-news topics such as politics and crime-and-justice.German officials, involved in discussions with Pakistani authorities, are urging for the return of deported Afghans accepted under their program, indicating an alignment of politics and general-news in regard to immigration and human rights issues.*
