German authorities are warning of serious risks linked to flights carrying Afghan migrants.

According to a new report from the Bild newspaper, German security services have carried out full background checks on only one in eight Afghan nationals who entered the country through special protection programmes. The report states that over 31,000 Afghans — including family members — have arrived without full security vetting, highlighting major security flaws in the Afghan admission programme. Since the Taliban returned to power, the German federal government has been flying Afghan migrants from a reception centre in Islamabad, Pakistan, claiming the arrivals formerly collaborated with the German military against the new regime.

In reality, only a small fraction of the passengers on these migrant flights meet that criterion, such as being former employees of the Bundeswehr or their relatives.

The news outlet Remix News recently reported on a charter flight carrying 157 Afghan nationals, of whom only two were former collaborators, accompanied by 13 relatives. On another flight to Berlin, only two out of 157 passengers had previously worked with the German military against the Taliban.

The remaining 142 individuals were selected through broader humanitarian programmes, such as the Federal Admission Programme (BAP), which prioritises Afghans considered at risk due to their “commitment to democratic values.”

The German Federal Police Union (DPolG) has long demanded the suspension of flights transporting Afghan refugees from Pakistan, citing security risks and issues with verifying the identities of those on board. Last month, the union wrote a letter to outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz calling for an immediate halt. „The current procedure, where travel documents are issued to foreigners without clearly verifying their identity, is extremely risky and irresponsible,” said Heiko Teggatz, DPolG’s federal chairman.

„Given the currently very tense security situation linked to Islamist terrorism, such a procedure is unacceptable,”

he added.

Im Interview spricht der Polizeigewerkschafter @M_Ostermann (@DPolGBPOLG) über die Ideologiegetriebenheit des Auswärtigen Amtes und die Frustration seiner Kollegen über das Aufnahmeprogramm Afghanistan. https://t.co/Er1H6vHD03

— Cicero Online (@cicero_online) April 24, 2025

The lax security measures have sparked outrage among police officials and politicians, many of whom are now calling for the setting up of a special asylum task force („Soko Asyl”) that would review every case. Individuals who fail renewed background checks would be deported. “Every Afghan who has not undergone full security screening must either be sent back to Islamabad or deported to Afghanistan, unless they can permanently confirm their identity with official documents on the spot and pass security checks,” Manuel Ostermann, deputy chairman of the federal police union, told the German tabloid. “A full review of all cases is essential,” he added.

Several politicians from the CDU/CSU have also called for action. “What has now come to light is unimaginable. At a time when Germany is facing migration pressure and a rise in violent crimes committed by asylum seekers, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock neglected Germany’s security,” remarked Manfred Pentz, Hesse’s minister for international affairs.

“Her approach was amateurish, ideological, and dangerous to national security,”

he added.