RASC News Agency: The German government has voiced serious concern over the escalating plight of Afghanistani refugees in Pakistan, particularly the widespread deportations, highlighting a sharp deterioration in their situation since 2023. Over 3,000 Afghanistani refugees, who have already been granted asylum in Germany, remain stranded in Islamabad, awaiting resettlement. Berlin has come under criticism for its slow asylum processing, with human rights groups arguing that bureaucratic delays have left vulnerable individuals exposed to significant risks. Despite these criticisms, the German government has reiterated its commitment to safeguarding Afghanistani refugees and maintaining close cooperation with Pakistani authorities. Through the German Association for International Cooperation (GIZ), Germany has been funding and providing accommodation for eligible asylum seekers in guesthouses across Pakistan.
On December 31, 2024, Pakistani security forces detained six Afghanistani refugees who held German asylum approvals, including a former local employee of the German government. These individuals were forcibly deported to Afghanistan. However, German diplomatic intervention enabled two of them to return to Islamabad safely. The German Foreign Ministry labeled Pakistan’s deportation of Afghanistani refugees as “a matter of deep concern for the federal government.” It emphasized that the German Embassy in Islamabad is in constant dialogue with Pakistani officials to facilitate the swift return of deported refugees. The ministry clarified that individuals undergoing asylum procedures in Germany or other countries are not intended targets of these deportations.
Furthermore, the Foreign Ministry announced that all refugees under Germany’s protection in Pakistan are being issued official letters from the German Embassy to shield them from arrest or deportation. Since the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, Germany has resettled over 36,000 Afghanistanis, primarily former local staff and their families. An additional 3,000 refugees currently remain in Pakistan, awaiting the finalization of their asylum applications for relocation to Germany.
