Germany: Afghan Refugees Accepted for Resettlement Face Rising Deportations from Pakistan

Pakistani authorities are deporting numerous Afghan refugees who have already been accepted by the German government through its admission program designed to protect vulnerable groups under Taliban rule. These deportations are occurring because the refugees’ Pakistani visas expire before they are able to secure German entry visas from the German embassy in Pakistan, a problem that has persisted for three years.

According to TAZ newspaper, Afghan refugees in Pakistan are facing dire conditions due to delays in Germany’s visa process. Many are uncertain about their chances of starting a new life in Germany, as their future depends on obtaining a German visa, which is often hindered by lengthy bureaucratic procedures. As a result, many refugees risk being deported to Afghanistan once their Pakistani visas expire.

To avoid strict EU policies and the risk of deportation to Afghanistan, Afghan refugees are attempting to reach Germany through alternative routes. Since the beginning of this year, many have arrived in Greece from Kabul, Kunduz, Jalalabad, and other regions of Afghanistan, despite the risks of homelessness and legal uncertainty.

Afghan refugees also fear returning to Turkey or Iran due to both countries’ strict asylum policies, which result in rapid deportations. This has pushed many Afghans to take more dangerous and costly routes in their attempts to seek safety.

The German Foreign Ministry has recently voiced concerns over Pakistan’s rising deportations of Afghan refugees. The Ministry noted that conditions for Afghan refugees in Pakistan have worsened since 2023, and the German embassy in Islamabad is maintaining close communication with Pakistani authorities.

Moreover, the Ministry reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to protecting refugees, stating that individuals under Germany’s admission program should not be subject to deportation. However, according to the FAZ newspaper, Pakistan deported six Afghans on New Year’s Eve, despite their acceptance into the German program. Germany was able to assist two of these individuals in returning to Islamabad.

Martin Sökefeld, an ethnologist who has studied Germany’s federal admission program for Afghans, expressed that Afghan refugees in Pakistan live in fear of being deported back to their Taliban-controlled homeland, where women’s rights and human rights are still severely repressed.

According to Tagesschau, more than 3,000 Afghans in Pakistan are awaiting German entry visas after undergoing a thorough vetting process and receiving acceptance promises. Germany is supporting Afghans in Pakistan by funding their accommodation in guest houses managed by the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) on behalf of the federal government.

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