A second group of Afghan nationals approved for resettlement in Germany has departed Pakistan, traveling via Istanbul on a commercial flight. Though some evacuees have successfully reached Germany despite the suspension of the official program, over 2,000 others remain stranded in Pakistan, facing detention or deportation.
For the second time since Germany’s government transition in May, a group of vulnerable Afghans cleared for resettlement has departed Pakistan by air.
The latest group boarded a commercial flight from Islamabad, with a layover scheduled in Istanbul before continuing to Germany, according to the German Press Agency (dpa).
Earlier in September, 47 Afghans from different German admission schemes were flown to Hanover via the same route. Upon arrival, they were distributed across various federal states.
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Admission program remains suspended
Thousands of Afghans have been stuck in limbo Pakistan, many for lengthy periods, waiting for relocation to Germany. The German government’s admission initiative, aimed at assisting especially vulnerable Afghans, was paused in May under the previous administration.
The program had originally targeted former employees of German missions in Afghanistan and others deemed at serious risk under Taliban rule, such as journalists, legal professionals, and human rights advocates.
Though the official program remains suspended, some individuals have still managed to secure entry to Germany after winning legal appeals in German courts. Several are being assisted by Kabul Luftbrücke ("Kabul Airlift"), a German NGO advocating for safe passage for Afghans in danger.
Over 2,000 Afghans who qualify under the admission framework, however, are still stranded in Pakistan. In recent weeks, some have reportedly been detained by Pakistani authorities, while others have been forcibly deported back to Afghanistan.
With dpa