Kabul Luftbrücke: At least 80 Afghan refugees held hostage awaiting transfer to Germany.
Local sources and agencies involved in the Afghan refugee transfer program to Germany report that the Taliban have detained and are holding dozens of Afghan citizens, including at least 80 individuals awaiting transfer, under strict control in Kabul.
These individuals, expelled from Pakistan, were staying in a hotel in Kabul to complete final transfer procedures, known among activists as the “Kabul Luftbrücke.”
According to an official from one of these agencies, speaking to Deutsche Welle, the Taliban subjected the refugees to forced interviews, video recordings, and severe psychological pressure.
The official warned that their detention conditions are alarming and that their lives are at serious risk, with restricted movement and a climate of intimidation part of the measures used to control them.
Human rights activists say this incident aligns with previous Taliban practices of using detention and hostage-taking as tools of political and financial leverage.
They have called on the German government and international bodies to secure the immediate safety and release of these individuals and warned of severe consequences if action is delayed.
