Islamabad/Berlin, Sept 4, (dpa/GNA) – Pakistani authorities have arrested more Afghans from German reception programmes.
Raids were carried out in at least two guest houses, where these Afghans were staying, dpa learned on Wednesday from police sources. They were taken to a deportation centre.
The German Interior Minister, Johann Wadephul, reported on Tuesday that Pakistan had given the German government until the end of the year, to complete admission procedure for the Afghans involved.
Nevertheless, Afghans were arrested in a guest house on the same day and deported on Wednesday, one of the people affected told dpa. Residents reported that two children were amongst those detained. “We live in fear and don’t know what will happen to us in the end,” said one resident.
“It is indeed unfortunately true that since yesterday afternoon, people from the German government’s admission programme in Islamabad have again been arrested. At this point in time, I cannot give the exact number and location due to the current situation,” said a spokesman for the German Foreign Office.
In an urgent letter to Chancellor Friedrich Merz, 200 of the Afghans deported to Kabul demanded they be allowed to leave for Germany as soon as possible.
The authors say they fear kidnapping, torture, arbitrary arrests and even executions by the ruling Taliban. When asked by journalists, Merz said he was taking the letter seriously. The eligibility for entry into Germany is currently being examined “in each individual case,” he said.
More than 2,000 Afghans are currently waiting in Pakistan to leave for Germany, under a series of admission programmes. They are former local embassy staff or are considered particularly at risk.
One of the Afghans arrested on Monday told dpa that he had been waiting in Islamabad for 15 months, for the security interviews required for his departure.
GNA