Intensifying deportations of Afghan refugees in Pakistan prompt Germany to contemplate their future status
The future of Afghans stranded in Pakistan, awaiting resettlement in Germany, hangs in the balance as the German government reviews its at-risk Afghan admission program. The review, initiated by the new center-right coalition that came to power in February 2025, is causing uncertainty and anxiety for thousands of Afghans who are currently in limbo.
Key points regarding their situation include:
- Review and suspension: The German government, led by Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, is actively reviewing whether Afghans stranded in Pakistan can still be admitted under the resettlement scheme. The decision depends on the outcome of this ongoing process, with no clear timeline announced.
- Pressure from Pakistani authorities: Some Afghans awaiting resettlement have come under scrutiny by Pakistani authorities. There have been reports of police raids, detention, and deportations of Afghans with official resettlement acceptance letters, raising urgent calls from activists for Germany to intervene and secure their safe transfer.
- Activist appeals: Human rights groups and civil society organizations have urged the German government to act quickly to relocate about 2,000 Afghan refugees stranded in Pakistan, warning that deportations risk sending them back to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan where they face severe danger.
- Lack of clear timelines and increased risk: The German Interior Ministry has not provided a deadline for the review but has confirmed that decisions are expected soon. Meanwhile, rising deportations from Pakistan add urgency to the refugees’ vulnerable position.
- Women judges and special cases: Afghan women judges and other at-risk individuals face additional challenges, including extensive documentation requirements and multiple rejections for humanitarian applications, worsening their legal and physical insecurity.
Overall, the Afghans stranded in Pakistan under Germany’s resettlement scheme are in limbo due to Germany’s policy reassessment, increased detention and deportation pressures in Pakistan, and ongoing humanitarian concerns highlighted by activists. The final decision by Germany remains pending but may lead to suspension or closure of resettlement pathways for these refugees.
In related news, the United Nations estimates that more than 1 million Afghans could be expelled from Pakistan as a result of the ongoing deportations. Germany's foreign ministry is in close contact with Pakistani authorities and using emergency mechanisms to prevent deportations of Afghans.
As the situation unfolds, it is crucial for the German government to address the urgent needs of these refugees and provide clear and timely decisions to ensure their safety and wellbeing.
- The ongoing review by the German government of its at-risk Afghan admission program has caused uncertainty and anxiety, particularly for Afghan refugees stranded in Pakistan, as their travel to Germany hangs in the balance due to the unclear timeline for the review and the potential suspension of resettlement.
- Amidst the review, reports of police raids, detention, and deportations of Afghans with official resettlement acceptance letters by Pakistani authorities have emerged, adding pressure on Germany to secure the safe transfer of these individuals and alleviate the risk of migration back to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, where they face severe danger.
- Activist appeals urging the German government to relocate about 2,000 Afghan refugees stranded in Pakistan have intensified, as special cases, such as Afghan women judges, face additional challenges like extensive documentation requirements, multiple rejections for humanitarian applications, and increased risk due to the lack of clear timelines, while general news highlights the United Nations' estimation of more than 1 million Afghans potentially facing expulsion from Pakistan due to the ongoing deportations.
