Pakistan-based Afghans with pending German visa applications face potential deportation
In a precarious situation, Afghan refugees, particularly women, are facing long delays, uncertainty, and growing fears of deportation as Germany reviews its resettlement commitments.
Thousands of Afghans, including around 2,300 to 2,400 approved for resettlement, remain stranded in Pakistan. Among them are many with official acceptance letters, but extended processing times and a shift in German migration policy have left them in limbo.
For Afghan women, especially those at high risk such as former judges and those targeted by the Taliban, the situation is dire. Humanitarian applications for these women have repeatedly been rejected without explanation, subjecting them to demanding application requirements that are difficult to fulfill due to their vulnerable and covert circumstances.
One such woman is ZK, a 40-year-old Afghan journalist from Badakhshan province, who fled to Pakistan in 2023 after being accepted into a German humanitarian admission program designed for Afghans at risk under the Taliban. She is currently living in a rented room in Islamabad's capital.
Another is Aziz Gull, a 25-year-old Afghan rights activist in Islamabad, who applied for a humanitarian visa through a German NGO in July 2024. Gull faces threats of police harassment, forced deportation from Pakistan, and potential harm from the Taliban due to her activism in Afghanistan.
The German government's stance is increasingly restrictive, halting refugee acceptance programs and even considering rescinding prior commitments. This has provoked legal action, with over 50 Afghan families suing Germany for ignoring legally binding resettlement agreements. Courts have intervened in some cases, ruling that Germany must issue visas to certain Afghan families stranded in Pakistan.
However, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry official denies allegations of harassment and blames Germany for not processing visa applications quickly. Umer Gilani, a lawyer in Islamabad, describes the situation of stranded Afghans as "dire." Many have had their visas expire and been deported back to Afghanistan, where the Taliban have banned women and girls from many areas of public life, including education, employment, and public spaces.
Many of the Afghans in Pakistan have received firm promises from German authorities that they can come to Germany, but now face an uncertain future due to Berlin's tougher stance on asylum and irregular migration. The Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021 and have been rolling back progress achieved in the previous two decades regarding women's rights. The current situation for Afghan refugees, particularly women, waiting for resettlement in Germany from Pakistan is marked by fear, uncertainty, and a growing risk of deportation.
- The precarious situation of Afghan refugees, especially women, in Pakistan is exacerbated by Germany's evolving migration policy, leading to long delays and growing fears of deportation despite previously approved resettlement commitments.
- The German government's recent stance on migration has become increasingly restrictive, including halting refugee acceptance programs and considering rescinding prior commitments, which has sparked legal action from over 50 Afghan families.
- In the midst of this political turmoil, the health-and-wellness of Afghan refugees, specifically women, continues to be a concern, with many facing potential harm from the Taliban and limited access to women's health services in Pakistan.
- Amidst the political rhetoric, it is essential for the German government to reconsider its stance in light of the general-news reports of the dire situations faced by Afghans, particularly women, waiting for resettlement.
- Science and society must work together to address the migration crisis and guide policymakers towards making informed decisions that prioritize the safety and well-being of those seeking refuge, ensuring a more positive future for men's health, women's health, and the health of society at large.
