A diplomatic dispute has escalated between the German and Pakistani governments following the expiration of a deadline regarding the processing of approximately 2,500 Afghan citizens currently residing in Islamabad.
According to reports citing diplomatic sources, Pakistan initially urged Berlin in late 2024 to resolve issues within various programs designed for Afghan nationals. Since the Taliban’s takeover in the summer of 2021, Germany has committed to accepting tens of thousands of Afghans, a process that involves directing them to Islamabad for further assessment rather than direct relocation.
The protracted nature of this evaluation – with applicants currently waiting an average of eight months to receive final approval – coupled with the three-month validity of Pakistani visas, has resulted in numerous individuals being classified as residing in the country illegally.
Previously instructed to vacate guest houses leased by GIZ (the German international cooperation agency) by March 1, the deadline was extended to June 15. However, this extension was granted without a corresponding effort to resolve the backlog of unresolved cases.
Shortly before the revised deadline, Pakistani authorities reportedly initiated searches of the guest houses, detaining Afghan citizens whose visas had expired. GIZ employees alerted the German embassy and German officials intervened to prevent deportations – largely with success.
Recent reports indicate a significant increase in the scope of Pakistani police actions targeting the German intake program. A source familiar with the situation in Islamabad described the circumstances as “chaotic” emphasizing the adverse impact on the well-being of those involved, regardless of one’s view of the intake programs themselves.
In response to inquiries, the German Foreign Ministry acknowledged a deterioration in the legal status of Afghan citizens since autumn 2023, with a further tightening observed since early April 2025. They stated that they are maintaining “close and high-level contact” with the Pakistani government to prevent the deportation of Afghans with valid entry authorizations who are in Islamabad for visa verification purposes.
Investigations by the news outlet reveal that approximately 150 Afghans with entry authorizations have been transferred to detention facilities; their current whereabouts remain unclear.
In a unique response to such situations, German authorities are reportedly dispatching couriers to deliver passports left behind by those who have been deported to the Afghan side of the border. This allows affected individuals to retrieve their documents and pursue a legal re-entry into Pakistan.
