Hundreds of Afghans Left in Limbo as Germany Cancels Resettlement Plan

Around 640 Afghans are currently waiting in Pakistan to be resettled in Germany. Many of them had worked with the German military or government during the US-led invasion and occupation of Afghanistan. They were accepted under special refugee programmes started by Germany’s previous centre-left government after the Taliban returned to power. However, the new government has decided to cancel two of these programmes. An interior ministry spokesperson said the people waiting in Pakistan would soon be informed that Germany no longer has political interest in accepting them. Chancellor Merz has taken a tougher stance on migration, partly to counter growing support for far-right political parties. His government argues that Germany must reduce the number of new arrivals. Human rights organisations strongly condemned the decision. They warned that many of the Afghans face serious danger, including persecution, abuse, or even death, if forced to return to Afghanistan or remain without protection. Karl Kopp, head of the German refugee organisation Pro Asyl, called the move “ice cold.” He said the previous government had made the promise because these people stood for women’s rights, human rights, and freedom in Afghanistan. “Leaving them now is a declaration of moral bankruptcy,” he said. After the Taliban took control of Afghanistan four years ago, Germany launched emergency programmes to protect “especially endangered people.” These included Afghan staff who worked for German forces, as well as journalists, activists, and human rights defenders. According to official data, about 4,000 local staff and 15,000 family members were resettled in Germany before April 2025, just before Merz took office in May. Since then, only a few hundred Afghans have been evacuated from Pakistan. The government has mostly ended the programme and instead offered money to those who agree to give up their right to resettlement. Last month, the interior ministry said only 62 people accepted this offer. NGOs estimate that up to 1,800 Afghans who were already approved for relocation are still stuck in Pakistan, many for months. Pakistan has warned that they must leave the country by the end of this year. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has led many of the government’s toughest migration measures. He says only Afghans with a “legally binding” promise from Germany should still be accepted. This would apply to just 90 of the 220 local staff still waiting. One former Afghan police training officer, now a father of four, said he had waited two years to enter Germany. “In one moment, all my hopes for a normal life were destroyed,” he told a German newspaper. Military journalist Thomas Wiegold warned that the decision could hurt Germany’s future overseas missions. He said soldiers may never again be able to rely on local support if Germany breaks its promises. More than 250 NGOs, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have signed an open letter demanding Germany evacuate all remaining Afghans before Pakistan’s deadline. They noted that 70% of those affected are women and children. This comes even as Germany continues deportations to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, despite official warnings of torture, public executions, and severe human rights abuses there.

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