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Around 400 Afghans awaiting relocation to Germany have been arrested in Pakistan, with several deported to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, sparking urgent calls from rights groups to halt removals and resume transfers.
Hundreds of Afghans awaiting relocation to Germany have been arrested in Pakistan following Berlin’s suspension of its resettlement program for vulnerable Afghans. Humanitarian groups warn that some detainees have already been deported to Afghanistan.
According to a Politico report on Thursday, August 14, Pakistani authorities have detained around 400 Afghans in recent weeks, with several forcibly returned. The arrests have intensified fears for those left stranded.
Germany’s decision to freeze the program, which was designed to relocate Afghans at risk under Taliban rule, has left more than 2,200 people in legal limbo in Pakistan. Among them are women’s rights defenders and members of the LGBTQ community who face severe persecution if returned.