Pakistan detains Afghans granted German hospitality, in its territory
In Pakistan, at least 2000 Afghan men and women are currently waiting for visas to relocate to Germany, a country that had set up a resettlement program to help Afghans who had worked with German institutions or were particularly threatened, such as journalists and human rights activists. However, due to a pause in the admissions program under Chancellor Friedrich Merz's stricter immigration policies, these individuals find themselves vulnerable to arrest and deportation amid Pakistani police raids on shelters [1][2][3].
Recently, Pakistani authorities have detained approximately 450 Afghans who hold a German acceptance letter, with over 200 already being deported back to Afghanistan [1][3]. This has sparked concern and calls for action from various quarters, including German diplomats, officials, and employees of the Society for International Cooperation, who are working tirelessly to prevent the deportation of these detained Afghans [1][3].
Reporters Without Borders has called on the German government to advocate for the release of a detained journalist, while German rights groups have initiated legal proceedings against German ministers, accusing them of neglect and failure to assist Afghans waiting under the resettlement program [1][2][3]. Activists and civil society organizations have also written open letters to Chancellor Merz and senior officials, urging the urgent relocation of the 2000 stranded Afghans and calling for coordinated interventions by both Berlin and Islamabad to stop deportations [4].
The German Government is actively urging Pakistan to allow those deported back into Pakistani territory so they can eventually be resettled in Germany, and ongoing diplomatic talks between Germany and Pakistan aim to facilitate the return of deported Afghans and to halt further expulsions [1][3]. Despite these efforts, the suspension of the admissions program due to Germany’s new immigration stance, combined with increased Pakistani police raids, has created a precarious situation for Afghans expecting safe passage to Germany, many fearing persecution if returned to Taliban rule [1][2][4].
It's important to note that mass deportations of Afghans are currently taking place in Pakistan, but people with a German acceptance letter should not be targeted. No new information about raids, arrests, or deportations of Afghans without a German acceptance letter was provided in this paragraph. The resettlement procedures for people from Afghanistan in Germany were halted by the new coalition government of Union and SPD in May [5].
Amidst these challenges, families are packing their bags out of fear of further arrests, and several families were arrested on Wednesday during raids conducted in several accommodations [6]. The situation underscores the urgent need for a swift resolution to the resettlement issue and a return to the programme that was initially designed to provide safety and security to those in need.
Sources:
[1] ntv.de [2] mbr/dpa [3] Deutsche Welle [4] Amnesty International [5] The Local [6] The Guardian
- In the context of the suspended German resettlement program and stricter immigration policies, discussions about community and employment policies have been raised to potentially address the employment prospects of Afghans upon their relocation, as well as provide temporary solutions for those awaiting visas.
- The increasing migration of Afghans in Pakistan has been a topic of political debate and general-news coverage, with the crime-and-justice sector monitoring the unprecedented arrests, raids, and deportations, creating a heightened sense of urgency for intervention from global bodies and relevant authorities.
