The German Police Union (DPolG) is calling for an immediate halt to Afghan refugee flights from Pakistan, warning that security gaps and unreliable identity checks pose serious risks.
In a letter to Chancellor Olaf Scholz, DPolG president Heiko Teggatz slammed the current process as reckless, especially given rising Islamist terrorism threats.
Teggatz criticized the program’s reliance on NGOs in Afghanistan and Pakistan to vet applicants, arguing this has led to widespread document fraud. Reports suggest Afghan refugees have used fake birth and marriage certificates at the German Embassy in Islamabad, while some are even traveling with Taliban-issued passports, which aren’t internationally recognized.
Concerns peaked over a scheduled flight carrying 157 refugees, where only two or three reportedly worked with the German military. Teggatz claimed that despite embassy staff involvement, fraudulent documents don’t necessarily disqualify applicants. Instead, officials rely on an “alternative credibility” test to issue travel IDs and visas.
Calling the process a major security risk, Teggatz urged the government to suspend the program until stricter verification measures are in place.
