Taliban Raid on a German-Linked Guesthouse in Kabul.
German media outlets have reported that Taliban security forces raided a German-affiliated guesthouse in Kabul on the evening of Sunday, 18 January 2026, conducting searches and interrogations of its residents.
According to these reports, the guesthouse was housing a number of Afghan nationals, including former local staff and individuals who had received admission commitments from the German government.
These individuals had previously been returned to Afghanistan from Pakistan.
Based on a report by Germany’s ARD network, Taliban forces held residents inside their rooms for several hours, confiscated their mobile phones, and recorded the interrogation process on video. It is reported that residents were questioned about their plans to travel to Germany.
Dozens of Afghans, along with their families, had been accommodated at the guesthouse at the expense of the German government.
Reports indicate that these individuals had been active in various sectors of Afghan civil society prior to the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, later seeking refuge in Pakistan.
Despite receiving assurances of relocation to Germany, they were denied onward travel and ultimately deported back to Afghanistan.
German media added that the Taliban Interior Ministry spokesperson has not yet commented on the raid, and Kabul police have also declined to respond, further heightening concerns over the security and future of those affected.
