A German plane has transferred ten Afghan families of asylum seekers stranded in Pakistan to Germany. The aircraft, carrying nearly 50 people including 20 minors, arrived at Hanover Airport. This marks the first time since the formation of the current government that Germany has received Afghan asylum seekers who were promised asylum. According to the German Foreign Ministry, about 2,100 Afghans in Pakistan are still waiting to be transferred to Germany.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul stated that the conditions of Afghans stranded in Pakistan are extremely difficult. He said, “As a coalition, we clearly agreed to end the voluntary admission programs, and we are committed to this. However, we are also committed to fulfilling the legally binding admission obligations, and we respect that.”
The German government has reached an agreement with the Pakistani government to extend the stay of Afghans until the end of the year so that the German authorities can complete the legal procedures for issuing visas, especially the security screening insisted upon by Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt. The Foreign Ministry is also examining the legal binding force of the admission promises granted to vulnerable Afghans.
Several Afghans stranded in Pakistan under the Afghan admission program obtained court orders requiring the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to issue them visas to Germany. This prompted dozens of others to file similar cases. The Berlin Court also warned that it would impose financial penalties of up to €10,000 on the Ministry if the orders were not enforced.
Events escalated after the Pakistani government began deporting Afghans to their home country. It has already deported 2,000 people who had been promised admission to Germany, a move that posed a serious risk to hundreds of Afghans who had previously worked with the German army, especially human rights defenders, journalists, and local staff.
What further complicated the situation was the Federal Government’s decision to suspend refugee admission programs, including the Afghan admission program. The move was part of the coalition agreement of the new black-red ruling coalition. However, the Berlin Administrative Court ruled that Germany remains obliged to honor its pledge to admit vulnerable Afghans.
Omid Nouripour, Vice President of the Federal Parliament (Bundestag), welcomed Germany’s admission of Afghans. Nouripour, who represents the Green Party, said: “We are not talking about just anyone who wants to come to Germany, but about people who risked their lives to help the German army, for example in Afghanistan. In return, they received a promise of protection.”
He acknowledged the difficulty of admitting all Afghan asylum seekers but stressed that Germany must honor its promise to provide protection. He added: “This is not only about the rule of law or migration policy, but also about Germany’s credibility in the world.”
