A coalition of Afghan civil society activists, protest movements, and human rights defenders has called on the German government to expedite the resettlement process for Afghan refugees stranded in Pakistan.
In an open letter addressed to Germany’s Chancellor, Interior Minister, and Foreign Minister, the group highlighted the plight of more than 2,000 Afghanistanis who, despite holding official approval letters from the German government, have been stuck in temporary shelters in Islamabad for over a year.
According to German government data, Pakistani authorities recently detained 450 of these individuals and deported 211 of them back to Afghanistan.
The signatories urged Berlin to work with the Pakistani government to assess the situation and prevent further deportations. They called for immediate measures to ensure the safety and psychological well-being of the refugees until they can be transferred to Germany.
The letter also noted that Pakistani authorities have dismantled temporary accommodations and relocated some of the refugees to so-called “biometric bases.”
Germany’s Foreign Ministry and its embassy in Islamabad have reportedly secured the release of 245 individuals through direct negotiations with Pakistani officials.
German authorities stated they have arranged housing for the 211 deported individuals and are working to bring them back to Pakistan for continued processing.
