Afghan Relocation Program Stalls, Threatening Return to taliban Rule & Raising Questions for German Government
Berlin – A program intended to offer refuge to Afghan nationals following the Taliban takeover is facing a critical impasse, with hundreds remaining in legal limbo and at risk of deportation back to Afghanistan. The stalled initiative is creating political fallout for German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt and his ministry, as a significantly lower-than-expected number of individuals have voluntarily relinquished their claims for relocation to Germany.
The situation centers on approximately 700 Afghans initially identified through human rights organizations and enrolled in a bridging program designed to facilitate their passage to Germany.However, according to estimates cited by Focus Online, over 600 remain hopeful for resettlement, alongside hundreds more Afghans in separate assistance programs who were not offered a similar deal. The program was slated to conclude by year-end, leaving the fate of these individuals uncertain and raising the specter of forced return to Taliban-controlled territory.
The German government had assured Pakistani authorities that the Afghan nationals would depart by December 31st. Should a ample number remain, Pakistan may initiate deportations, effectively sending vulnerable individuals back into the hands of the Taliban.
“while the federal government receives Taliban representatives as diplomats in Germany, it asks the people threatened by them to waive their promised security. This poisoned offer is cynical and a moral bankruptcy,” stated Shahina Gambir, a Green Party interior policy spokesperson.
The program’s difficulties are also manifesting in the courts. As of late October, at least 117 urgent legal proceedings concerning Afghan visas were pending before the berlin Administrative Court. Of the 67 cases already decided, a significant majority – 49 – ruled in favor of the Afghan applicants, with only 18 supporting the government’s position. The legal challenges underscore the growing pressure on the German government to address the situation and provide a viable path to safety for those at risk.