535 Afghans To Be Moved From Pakistan By Year-End, Says Germany

Dobrindt said the transfer process has been accelerated amid the risk that the refugees could be deported from Pakistan. He told German media that many Afghans with German admission pledges are living in uncertainty and that the government is seeking to complete case reviews and relocate as many as possible before the end of the month.

He added that a small number would likely remain, and their cases would be reviewed next year.

Some of the refugees previously worked with the German government or German organisations in Afghanistan, while others are considered at risk, including journalists and human rights activists.

Pakistan, which has deported millions of Afghans over the past year, has urged Western countries, including Germany, to relocate refugees who have already received admission pledges. Dobrindt said Berlin is in talks with Pakistani authorities regarding deadlines for deportations.

Germany’s new government has not accepted all Afghans awaiting relocation in Pakistan. German media reported last week that the conservative government led by Friedrich Merz rejected 650 Afghans who had previously received admission pledges.

The Merz government had earlier sought to discourage dozens of Afghans with admission pledges in Pakistan from travelling to Germany by offering financial incentives, but only about 60 people reportedly accepted the offer.