Germany to Take in More Than 500 Stranded Afghans from Pakistan as Berlin moves to resolve refugee limbo
Germany has announced that it will admit more than 500 Afghan nationals who have been stranded in Pakistan despite being promised refuge under an earlier relocation programme, according to German government officials.
Speaking to the RND media network, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said that Germany plans to complete the processing of 535 Afghan cases “as far as possible” within December to allow their entry into the country. He acknowledged that a small number of cases may carry over into the new year.
The Afghans were accepted under a refugee scheme introduced by Germany’s previous government but have remained in limbo in Pakistan since conservative Chancellor Friedrich Merz took office in May and suspended the programme. Those awaiting relocation include Afghans who worked alongside German armed forces during the war against the Taliban, as well as journalists, human rights activists and other individuals deemed to be at high risk following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.
Pakistan has reportedly set a deadline for the end of the year for the resolution of these cases, warning that those left unresolved could face deportation back to Afghanistan. Dobrindt said Berlin remains in contact with Pakistani authorities regarding the matter and is attempting to prevent forced returns.
Last week, Germany’s interior ministry revealed that 650 individuals previously linked to the programme were informed they would no longer be admitted, as the new government determined that their relocation was no longer in Germany’s national interest. Authorities have also offered financial incentives to those still in Pakistan to voluntarily withdraw their claims, though only 62 people had accepted the offer by mid-November.
Earlier this month, more than 250 organisations, including Amnesty International, Save the Children and Human Rights Watch, said that around 1,800 Afghans connected to the programme remain stranded in Pakistan. The groups urged the German government to honour its commitments and allow the refugees to enter the country without further delay.
The issue continues to draw criticism from rights groups, highlighting the humanitarian challenges faced by Afghan refugees caught between shifting political decisions and tightening immigration policies.
