Berlin – Germany has announced that it will welcome 535 Afghans currently waiting in Pakistan, bringing hope to families who have spent months in legal limbo.
These people, who were initially assured of safety in Europe, were delayed after a transition in the German government earlier this year.
On Thursday, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt affirmed the decision, saying the aim was to complete processing such cases by the end of the month of December.
The move comes just as a critical deadline approaches; Pakistan had warned that any Afghan refugees without settled cases would face deportation back to their homeland by the end of the year.
The People Behind the Numbers
Some of the individuals who will be entering Germany are individuals who have put their lives in jeopardy in order to help in international work in Afghanistan. These are former members of the German armed forces, human rights activists, and journalists who became targets of the Taliban.
Although the admission scheme was established by the previous administration, the programme was put on ice when Chancellor Friedrich Merz assumed office in May.
This halt put hundreds of families on hold in neighbouring Pakistan, not knowing whether they would ever see the light of day or be plunged back into danger.
Challenges and Denials
The interior ministry has already told another 650 persons last week that they would not be admitted to Germany because their presence in the country was no longer in its national interest.
The government even paid financial compensation to the people in Pakistan to forfeit their resettlement claims. Few people, however, accepted the offer, with the majority holding the opinion that going back to Afghanistan is not a secure choice.
A Growing Call for Help
Human rights organizations, such as Amnesty International and Save the Children, have been demanding stronger measures.
According to their estimation, there are approximately 1,800 Afghans who are trapped in Pakistan under this particular programme. Although 535 people are considered a good start, activists encourage the government not to forget about those who are still waiting.
Minister Dobrindt pointed out that they are hopeful that they will complete most of the cases by this month, but they may have some complicated files that they will get into the new year.
