Berlin Criticized Over Handling of Afghan Refugee Deportations from Pakistan

(BERLIN) Germany’s government is facing a growing storm over the fate of Afghan refugees stuck in Pakistan, as deportations rise and legal pressure mounts in Berlin. On August 15, 2025, the rights group Pro Asyl filed criminal complaints against Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, accusing them of “abandonment and failure to render assistance” to Afghans whom Germany had already accepted for protection but who remain trapped in Pakistan. The complaints come amid reports that Pakistani authorities detained hundreds of Afghans in early August and deported at least 34 people back to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.

Escalating deportations and legal backlash

Pakistan’s removal campaign began in late 2023 and widened over time. Authorities first targeted undocumented Afghans, then expanded enforcement in April 2024 to holders of Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC). By March 31, 2025, all ACC holders and undocumented Afghans were told to leave or face deportation. Mass arrests and quick removals have followed, with raids hitting neighborhoods and workplaces.

Detainees are often taken straight to border crossings, sometimes without notice or a chance to contact family. Families are frequently split up, and minors are at added risk. The scale is large: since 2023, over 1 million Afghans have left Pakistan.

• The UN’s International Organization for Migration reported 1,088,000 returns to Afghanistan from Pakistan as of June 7, 2025, including more than 200,000 since April 2025.
• Over 1.4 million Afghans hold UNHCR-issued Proof of Registration (PoR) cards.
• PoR cards were extended to June 30, 2025, but their future is unclear if Pakistan declines to renew them, placing registered families at risk of future removal.

Human rights groups warn that returnees face grave danger under Taliban rule. Amnesty International and other organizations have documented arrests, torture, and killings. Women and girls face severe restrictions, and journalists and former government workers are at particular risk. Pro Asyl says Germany’s pause on admissions has left approved cases exposed to these dangers while deportations from Pakistan continue.

Germany’s numbers underline the problem: roughly 2,000–2,400 Afghans who received German approval remain in Pakistan, including at least 350 former local staff of German institutions and their families. These include people who worked with German ministries, aid groups, and media, and who were promised safety. Many are now in hiding, afraid of arrest, and unsure whom to trust. Some have been detained despite carrying documents that show they are waiting for German visas.

“People approved by Germany are being left exposed while deportations continue,” — Pro Asyl (summarized assertion).

Stalled resettlement and diplomatic response

The new government under Chancellor Friedrich Merz, in office since May 2025, has paused all resettlement programs for Afghan refugees. That pause continues despite a court ruling in July 2025 that found a “legally binding obligation” to issue visas to people already accepted under Germany’s admission scheme. Berlin says national security and public pressure require a review. But for those stuck in Pakistan, every day of delay brings fresh risk.

Foreign Minister Wadephul says he is “deeply concerned” and that Germany is talking with Pakistani officials “at the highest level” to prevent removals of approved cases. So far, there is little visible progress. Pakistan’s Interior Ministry has warned that even Afghans awaiting relocation to Western countries could be deported if they are not moved quickly. Pressure is intense in cities such as Karachi, Islamabad, and Peshawar, where police checks have increased.

• Germany processes Afghan humanitarian cases in Pakistan because it has no diplomatic presence in Afghanistan.
• Normally, interviews and visa steps run through the German Embassy in Islamabad.
• As of August 2025, the program is suspended and no new visas are being issued for approved Afghan refugees.
• Berlin has announced €5.8 million in humanitarian aid for Afghanistan, but aid does not create protection or legal status for those still in Pakistan.

Pro Asyl’s legal filing targets top officials, arguing the state has a duty to act when people already accepted by Germany face deportation to danger. The group says Berlin must urgently resume admissions and issue visas to those approved. International organizations, including UNHCR and IOM, have urged both Pakistan and Germany to act to protect at-risk people.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, long pauses in relocation often push already cleared cases into legal limbo, leaving families exposed when host countries tighten enforcement.

Policy background and practical steps for affected families

Key policy points

• Pakistan’s removal drive widened over 2024–2025, hitting undocumented Afghans and ACC holders first, with warnings that even those awaiting relocation are not exempt.
• The future of 1.4 million PoR card holders remains uncertain after June 30, 2025, depending on renewal decisions.
• Germany’s resettlement pause, in place under Chancellor Merz, continues despite the July 2025 court ruling that found a binding duty to issue visas to approved applicants.
• In early August, Pakistani authorities detained hundreds and deported at least 34 Afghans to Afghanistan, including people believed to have German approval.

Practical steps for families stuck in Pakistan

1. Keep documentation secure:
   • Make digital and paper copies of German approval letters and any embassy correspondence.
   • Save copies in cloud storage and with trusted contacts.
2. Maintain official contacts:
   • Stay in regular contact with the German Embassy in Islamabad: https://pakistan.diplo.de/pk-en.
   • Use email and official channels; avoid fixers and paid “agents.”
3. If detained:
   • Relatives should alert UNHCR Pakistan and recognized legal aid groups.
   • Share case numbers and documents with these organizations.
4. Personal safety measures:
   • Maintain a low profile if at risk; change routines.
   • Keep phones charged and emergency contacts pre-set.
5. Check PoR card status:
   • Families with PoR cards should check the card’s current validity and watch for official updates on renewals.

Legal and humanitarian considerations

International advocates argue Pakistan’s mass removals violate core refugee protection rules, even though Pakistan is not a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention. They point to the principle of non-refoulement: people must not be sent back to a place where they face serious harm.

• Pakistani officials cite security and sovereignty, arguing the state must control its borders and can act against those without valid status.
• German officials acknowledge the danger in Afghanistan but insist a pause is needed while Berlin reviews security and policy.

For Afghans in Pakistan approved for Germany, the gap between policy and reality is stark. They passed screening and received confirmation, only to be told to wait while deportations accelerate around them. Consequences include:

• Parents pulling children from school to avoid arrest on the way.
• Workers skipping jobs for fear of raids.
• Families moving between safe houses; some have seen neighbors taken to the border without warning.

The sense of being forgotten in Berlin is deepening.

What advocates are demanding and potential consequences

Rights groups and aid workers want concrete steps, including:

• A rapid restart of visa issuance for approved cases.
• Safe passage arrangements with Pakistan to prevent deportations of those on German lists.
• Swift travel for the most vulnerable, including women at risk, journalists, and former local staff.

Without those steps, advocates warn, more people will be pushed back into a country where persecution remains common.

As the legal complaints filed by Pro Asyl move ahead, pressure on Berlin is likely to increase. Courts have already said the government has a binding duty to act for those it accepted. Whether policy catches up with that ruling—and in time to protect those now in danger—will define Germany’s Afghan response in the months ahead.