Germany Welcomes 141 Afghan Refugees Amid Deadline Pressure from Pakistan

A government-organized charter flight brought 141 Afghan refugees to Hannover, Germany, continuing the country’s efforts to resettle those promised safety after the Taliban takeover in August 2021. Among the arrivals were 123 individuals from Germany's federal resettlement program and 18 former local staff or their family members who had worked with German entities in Afghanistan. The refugees arrived from Islamabad and will be distributed across various federal states for resettlement.

Germany faces an urgent deadline imposed by Pakistan, which requires that all resettlement procedures for Afghan refugees be completed by the end of the year. After the deadline, deportations back to Afghanistan could begin, despite the largely closed border. The German government has stopped accepting new applicants for voluntary resettlement programs, following the conditions outlined in the coalition agreement of CDU, CSU, and SPD.

Meanwhile, approximately 650 Afghans who had previously been promised resettlement under a “human rights list” recently received final rejection notices from Germany. These individuals were offered assistance either for voluntary return to Afghanistan or relocation to other countries. This development has sparked political criticism; Omid Nouripour of the Green Party condemned the government for failing to uphold its promises to Afghan refugees, highlighting that many have been forced to take legal action to claim their rights.

These actions reflect Germany’s constrained resettlement policy amid administrative, political, and international challenges. The government’s efforts to meet deadlines imposed by Pakistani authorities while managing the rising number of claims face increasing scrutiny from opposition voices and refugee advocates alike. The arrival of this charter flight marks another step in a complex process balancing humanitarian commitments with political realities.