Afghanistan Times
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KABUL – Germany is set to resume the entry of vulnerable Afghan nationals stranded in Pakistan, ending a months-long freeze on its relocation program amid rising legal and diplomatic pressure.
Approximately 2,000 Afghans, approved for relocation due to risks under Taliban rule, have been unable to leave Pakistan after Berlin suspended the initiative as part of efforts to curb migration. Rights organizations and dozens of affected Afghans challenged the freeze in court, winning rulings that increased pressure on the German government to act.
The urgency has intensified as Pakistan prepares to expel documented Afghan refugees before a September 1 deadline, including those approved for Germany’s program. Families cleared for relocation have already been informed, and the first arrivals are expected in the coming days.
Authorities plan to transport Afghans discreetly on commercial flights with stopovers in Dubai or Istanbul before reaching Germany. While the total number of individuals cleared for departure is not yet confirmed, verification procedures have resumed, and German personnel are now on the ground in Pakistan processing cases.
The foreign and interior ministries have not issued official comments, but the move signals a significant humanitarian pivot, balancing domestic migration concerns with Germany’s international obligations to protect at-risk populations.
