Pakistani authorities detained Afghans in Islamabad in the latest cracks on the country’s refugees, some of which were determined to move to Germany, confirmed by the police on Thursday.
The arrest has taken reactions from Berlin, some of them have been sent to exile centers, already approved for transfer under Germany’s entry program as they escaped from the Taliban.
Who is demanding to deport Pakistan?
Police in Islamabad said that the group included people registered in German programs, discovering as former local employees and others were understood at risk after Taliban acquisition in 2021. It was not clear how many of the arrested people were discovered.
After the return of the German soldiers, Germany promised Taliban to give shelter to local employees who supported Germany, as well as other Afghans were facing harassment. Some of these 2.400 people are now in Pakistan and are expecting to leave for Germany. Among them, according to the German Interior Ministry, there are about 350 former local employees of German institutions and their families.
People of the region told the Reuters News Agency that some had already been taken to the border area and even Afghanistan.
The witnesses described the night raid on several guesthouse and said that the whole family was removed.
“Seven families were arrested alone from my guesthouse,” a owner told the DPA news agency.
The advocacy group Kabul Luftbruk (“Kabul Air Bridge” said that families have been divided into which minors have been removed from parents. For example, two sisters, aged 17 and 18, were reportedly arrested without their family and taken to Afghanistan.
The group said in a statement, “The German embassy in Islamabad is clearly unheard to effectively preserve the affected people.”
The affected people include a family, for which the Berlin Administrative Court had already issued a positive emergency verdict.
Reporters with borders urged Berlin to secure the release of an Afghan journalist with a German entry promise, stating that “Germany should work now”.
Why is this happening now?
Pakistan started the collective exile of unspecified Afghans at the end of 2023 and increased the policy to the people registered in April 2024.
Officials in Islamabad say the plan is to remove 3 million Afghans, arguing that a policy is required to pressurize the Taliban government.
Human rights have warned of serious threat to withdrawal, including possible vengeance for alleged acts against the Taliban as it was fighting its extremism.
What has Germany said about arrest?
Asked whether people already being deported in Afghanistan are now being brought back, German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrid said that the German agency was internationally inherent in the international cooperation (GIZ) and was supported.
He said that each case would be investigated whether there was a legally binding responsibility to accept them.
The Interior Ministry has confirmed awareness about dating and said that this hash explained Pakistan that those who are part of German programs.
“We keep a close watch on the fact that in Pakistan,” Dobrid said. “The return of Afghans in Afghanistan has accelerated.”
Hey said “In most cases” there is still no entry for Germany, and what will be given to anyone “cannot be said today.”
Left the critic of opposition greens and German government
Shahina Gambir of Greens called Pakistan’s exile “A Scandal” and said “For months the federal government has been ignoring the need for their legally confirmation for safety.”
Clara Bugger of Socialist Left Party ended the situation as “immense inhumanity” and said “Now action should be taken: release the visa, stop exile.”
Kabul Airbruke said there are 15 court decisions that confirm the right to admission of individuals, but “appeals by the federal government often delays the issuance of visas.”
The rights groups and opposition parties continued to press for immediate visas and a safe return of already deported people.
Scene edited by Sinico
