A fifth group of Afghan evacuees left Islamabad for Germany on Tuesday, as Berlin slowly resumes relocation of vulnerable Afghans awaiting transfer.
A group of 11 Afghan citizens departed Islamabad for Germany on Tuesday, becoming the fifth batch of evacuees to leave Pakistan under Berlin’s humanitarian admission program, the German news agency DPA reported.
German authorities said around 1,900 Afghans with approved relocation status are still waiting in Pakistan, many of them stranded for months or even years as bureaucratic delays continue to stall departures. Earlier flights had already transferred several groups of Afghans promised resettlement since the current coalition government took office.
The admission program, designed for vulnerable Afghans including former local employees of German institutions, their relatives, and others at risk from the Taliban, was suspended in May by Germany’s conservative-led coalition. Despite the suspension, several Afghans were later allowed entry following successful court appeals.
In its coalition agreement, the German government pledged to phase out voluntary admission initiatives such as the Afghan relocation scheme and to avoid introducing new programs of similar nature.
Earlier this month, authorities sent letters to some Afghan applicants offering financial compensation in exchange for withdrawing from the resettlement process. The proposal drew strong backlash from recipients who described it as “shameful and absurd” after years of waiting in Pakistan.
One Afghan evacuee told DPA: “We have spent two years in Islamabad hoping for safety, and now they offer us money to give up our future.”
Human rights groups in Germany have condemned the move, saying it contradicts Berlin’s earlier commitment to protect Afghans who supported international missions and now face danger under Taliban rule.
While the latest flight has given hope to a few families, nearly two thousand others remain in Pakistan, waiting for what could be their final chance to rebuild their lives in safety.
