WEB DESK: Germany announced on Thursday that it will resettle more than 500 Afghans who were promised asylum but have been stranded in Pakistan. The German government plans to expedite the processing of these cases, aiming to complete the procedures by December to facilitate their entry into Germany.
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt told the RND media network that Berlin is prioritizing a swift resolution, with hopes to process as many cases as possible within the month. The refugees are part of a scheme initiated by the previous German administration, designed to assist Afghans who assisted German forces or face imminent danger from the Taliban following their return to power in 2021.
Since the change in government in Germany, the new administration, led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, has frozen the scheme, leaving many Afghans in limbo. Pakistan had set a deadline at the end of the year for resolving these cases, threatening deportation for those not processed in time.
Dobrindt mentioned ongoing discussions with Pakistani authorities and acknowledged that some cases might require further attention into the new year.
Recently, the German interior ministry informed 650 individuals that they would not be admitted under the current policies, citing national interest considerations. The government has also offered financial incentives for those in Pakistan to relinquish their claims to asylum, but only 62 have accepted this offer as of mid-November.
Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, Save the Children, and Human Rights Watch, have expressed concern, stating that approximately 1,800 Afghans remain in uncertain status in Pakistan and urging Germany to grant them entry.
