German government must get Afghans out of Pakistan
In view of the threat of mass deportations from Pakistan, the Schleswig-Holstein Refugee Council and the non-governmental organization Pro Asyl have called on the German government to quickly take in Afghans who are particularly at risk. Since the withdrawal of the German Armed Forces from Afghanistan, more than 14,000 Afghans have received a promise of admission to Germany and are stuck in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran due to slow visa procedures and security checks, the organizations announced on Saturday. Only 14 people have so far entered Germany via Pakistan due to complicated procedures and security checks at the German embassy. More than 600 people have been accepted so far, while 1,000 a month had been announced.
"Many people had to flee to Pakistan for Germany's and other countries' admission procedures," explained Alema Alema, former Afghan Deputy Minister of Peace and Afghanistan advisor at Pro Asyl. They were never safe there. But now the situation has worsened. "Those affected, as well as the Pakistani government, have been told that these are short-term stays in order to carry out visa procedures." The Federal Foreign Office must finally ensure that they are released quickly. "Every day of waiting costs lives," warned Alema.
According to government figures, more than 200,000 Afghans have now left the South Asian country in the wake of the threatened mass deportations from Pakistan. The "repatriation process" is running smoothly, the acting Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti told the German Press Agency on Saturday. The figures refer to the period of the past few weeks since the nuclear power announced its intention to deport refugees.
The Pakistani government recently announced that it would deport refugees without residence status and set a deadline of November 1 for them to leave the country voluntarily. The measure is primarily aimed at Afghans from the Taliban-ruled neighboring country, who make up the largest proportion of irregular migrants in Pakistan. The government is using the plans to create a mood ahead of the parliamentary elections planned for February in the South Asian country.
Given the escalating conflicts and potential risks for Afghans in Pakistan, the urgent need for migration to safer destinations becomes apparent. The German government should swiftly expedite the visa processes for these individuals, considering the mounting threats and the lives at stake.
Source: www.dpa.com
