Pakistan Detains Approximately 280 Afghans Awaiting Resettlement

In recent days, Pakistani authorities have detained around 280 Afghan nationals who were awaiting their relocation to Germany under various resettlement programs. Reports indicate that among those detained, 35 individuals have already been deported back to Afghanistan. The German Foreign Office has stated that high-level communications are ongoing between Berlin and Islamabad to address the situation.

Currently, over 2,000 Afghans are in Pakistan, waiting for their exit to Germany. These individuals include former local staff and those deemed particularly vulnerable. Since the closure of the German Embassy in Kabul following the Taliban's takeover in August 2021, these individuals have been undergoing a vetting process in Pakistan, which can take several months before they can engage with security agencies.

The German government is striving to ensure the safety and security of these vulnerable individuals. Additionally, efforts are being made to facilitate the return of those who have been deported to Afghanistan, ensuring compliance with local residency laws. The German Foreign Office has indicated that they are working to secure the release of particularly vulnerable individuals detained by Pakistani authorities and to continue providing support through their local service providers.

Witnesses have reported that recent police raids have occurred in various accommodations housing Afghan refugees. These operations have reportedly continued for several days, with one guesthouse owner in Islamabad stating that seven families were detained from his premises. Another guesthouse reported that nine families were taken by authorities.

Residents in these accommodations express fears of further detentions, with some families packing their belongings out of concern. According to the organization Reporters Without Borders, a journalist who had been promised resettlement, along with his family members, was also taken to a detention center. The organization has urged the German government to advocate for his release.

It remains uncertain whether these actions are part of a broader crackdown by Pakistani authorities against migrants and refugees or specifically targeting Afghans enrolled in German resettlement programs. Observers believe that the authorities are likely aware of which guesthouses house Afghan nationals linked to these programs.

Criticism has emerged toward German authorities from the organization Kabul Luftbrücke, which has reported receiving continuous distress signals from individuals affected by the situation. They allege that Pakistani security forces have sometimes resorted to violence during these detentions and have also reported instances of families being separated. The organization highlights that the German Embassy in Islamabad appears unable to provide effective protection for those affected and is calling for immediate visa issuance for the individuals concerned.

Following the Taliban's takeover, Germany established various resettlement programs for Afghan nationals. However, the new coalition government of the Union and SPD halted these programs in early May. Among those waiting to be relocated are approximately 350 former local staff members of German institutions and their families. There have been ongoing criticisms regarding the prolonged nature of these resettlement procedures. Pakistani authorities had previously detained several Afghans with resettlement approvals in recent months.

The German Interior Minister has indicated that contact has been established with individuals already deported to Afghanistan through the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), and support is being provided. Each case is examined to determine if a binding obligation for relocation exists, alongside necessary security checks.

Since 2023, Pakistan has been actively deporting Afghan nationals, initiating mass deportations of unregistered Afghan refugees. Since April, even registered individuals have faced deportation, with plans to expel up to three million Afghans in the long term. Analysts suggest that these mass deportations are intended to exert pressure on the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.