KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Germany’s Interior Ministry has announced plans to transfer approximately 410 Afghan refugees currently in Pakistan as part of its ongoing but limited relocation efforts for those with prior approvals.
A ministry spokesperson told Deutsche Welle on Monday that about 360 individuals qualify under the federal admission program for vulnerable Afghans, including journalists, human rights defenders and others at risk, while about 50 fall under the program for former local staff of German institutions.
The spokesperson said the cases are in the final stages of review for departure from Pakistan.
Last Friday, another group of 32 Afghan refugees with binding admission commitments departed Islamabad and arrived in Berlin for resettlement, according to reports citing the Interior Ministry.
Germany established multiple admission programs after the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in August 2021 to resettle Afghans who worked with German forces or institutions, as well as those facing particular risks. Thousands have since been relocated, mainly from Pakistan and Iran.
However, the current German coalition government, which took office in May 2025, suspended new admission programs but has continued to transfer individuals already approved and who legally secured visas. The government has also rejected admission for over 600 Afghans previously promised entry and offered financial incentives to some to withdraw their applications and return to Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, thousands of Afghan refugees remain stranded in Pakistan, where they face uncertainty, security threats, and potential deportation to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. Human rights organizations have repeatedly urged Germany and other Western countries to accelerate transfer efforts to protect these vulnerable populations.
