Hundreds of Afghans who were previously assured sanctuary in Germany have now been informed that those promises are being revoked. The decision affects approximately 640 individuals currently in Pakistan, many of whom provided support to German forces during the international mission in Afghanistan.
The shift in policy comes from the new governing coalition, which has moved to terminate two specific admission programs established by the previous administration. Officials stated that formal notifications are being sent, indicating there is no longer a political basis for their admission.
This policy reversal has drawn sharp condemnation from human rights organizations, which describe the move as a breach of trust and a dangerous abandonment of vulnerable people. Advocates warn that those left behind face severe risks, including potential retaliation from the Taliban regime now in control of Afghanistan.
The original programs were designed to offer refuge to Afghans deemed at particular risk, such as former local employees of German governmental and military entities, alongside activists and journalists. While thousands were evacuated under the prior policy, the current government has significantly curtailed these efforts, instead offering financial incentives for applicants to withdraw their resettlement claims—an option few have accepted.
Critics argue that this stance not only endangers lives but could also undermine future international operations by damaging trust in Germany’s commitments to local partners. Reports indicate that up to 1,800 approved applicants remain stranded, with a significant proportion being women and children.
The interior ministry has now stipulated that only cases with what it terms a “legally binding” promise will proceed, a criterion that appears to exclude the majority of those still waiting. This narrowing of eligibility has left many in a state of profound uncertainty, with one affected individual describing the news as the destruction of all hope for a secure future.
The Pakistani government has set a deadline for the departure of Afghan nationals, adding urgency to the situation. Despite ongoing reports of severe human rights abuses in Afghanistan, Germany has recently resumed deportations to the country under specific conditions, a practice that continues under the current leadership.