KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Germany has relocated 162 Afghan refugees from Pakistan as part of its ongoing evacuation efforts, German media reported.
A chartered flight carrying the refugees took off from Islamabad on Wednesday and is set to land in the eastern German city of Leipzig, according to the German newspaper DPA.
This marks the third such flight since early March, with Germany relocating 132 Afghan refugees on March 5, followed by over 200 on March 27.
Germany’s Foreign Ministry has confirmed that around 2,600 vulnerable Afghans currently in Pakistan are awaiting relocation. These include former employees of German institutions in Afghanistan, their family members, and individuals at high risk, such as human rights defenders and journalists.
The flights have continued despite criticism from far-right parties in Germany over the acceptance of Afghan migrants. Germany’s incoming government plans to end the admission programs, as outlined in its newly released coalition agreement. “We will end voluntary federal admission programs as far as possible (e.g., Afghanistan) and not launch any new programs,” the agreement states.
Since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, Germany has relocated over 35,800 at-risk Afghans, including former employees of German institutions, human rights activists, and journalists.
Despite these efforts, hundreds of approved applicants remain stranded in Pakistan, facing growing uncertainty as Pakistani authorities tighten restrictions, conduct mass detentions, and deport undocumented Afghan refugees.
Germany, along with other Western nations, continues to face increasing pressure from humanitarian groups to expedite the evacuation and resettlement of Afghans who supported international missions and are now at risk under Taliban rule or remain stranded in neighbouring countries.
