Germany Weighs Future of Stranded Afghans in Pakistan
Germany is considering whether Afghans who were accepted for resettlement but remain stuck in Pakistan will continue to be given permission to enter, as Pakistan increases the deportation of Afghan refugees. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said Thursday that Berlin is evaluating the future of these people, many of whom are at greater risk if pushed back into Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.
The move is taking place while Pakistan has resolved to issue a September 1 exit order to Afghan refugees, which, as per the United Nations, would result in the expulsion of more than one million people. They include over 2,000 Afghans who are already approved to resettle in Germany through a special admission programme for individuals considered to be vulnerable to persecution under the Taliban regime.
Deportations Continue Despite Approvals and Holiday
One source close to the matter informed Reuters that Pakistani authorities continue to hold Afghans in detention for deportation, even on the country’s Independence Day holiday. “Individuals who have received German admission approval are being sent to the Torkham border as we speak,” the source stated, regarding the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt admitted that certain Afghans in the resettlement program “recently caught the eye of Pakistani authorities.” He indicated that Berlin is negotiating with Islamabad regarding their cases and that the prospects of their departure to Germany depend on the results of the review.
Political Shift Threatens Admission Programme
Germany’s risk Afghan entry scheme, introduced in October 2022 by the previous centre-left administration, is under the spotlight after February’s election that secured conservatives their first government since the war in Ukraine. The new centre-right coalition plans to close the programme, which was already halted pending review.
Since May 2021, Germany has resettled about 36,500 Afghans who are deemed vulnerable to Taliban retaliation. Yet, the conservative government claims that humanitarian migration has outpaced the integration capacity of the country.
On Wednesday, Germany’s foreign ministry announced that it was in close communication with Pakistani officials and was implementing emergency measures to stop deportations. The interior ministry hasn’t mentioned a timeline for the final decision but suggested that progress reports could come soon. It is still uncertain if Pakistan’s increased deportations will speed up the review process.
For the thousands in limbo, the decision will determine if they are able to find refuge in Germany or be sent back into an uncertain and perilous life in Afghanistan.
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