Germany Seeks to Speed Up Relocation of Afghan Refugees from Pakistan
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has announced that Berlin aims to expedite the transfer of a significant group of Afghan refugees who have been promised resettlement in Germany, currently residing in Pakistan.
Speaking on Wednesday during an emergency session of the Bundestag’s Interior Affairs Committee, Dobrindt said the relocation process would continue through the end of this year. While he did not commit to a final deadline for completing the transfers, he indicated that some relocations might extend into January and February of next year.
According to Dobrindt, priority will be given to individuals who hold official resettlement approvals and have passed security checks. Nonetheless, nearly 1,900 Afghan citizens with German government approval remain stranded in Pakistan, awaiting transfer.
Concerns have grown as Pakistani authorities have warned that those not relocated by the end of the year may face deportation. The warning prompted the German parliament’s Interior Affairs Committee to convene the special session.
During the meeting, Green Party representative Emily Emmerich sharply criticized Dobrindt for failing to provide clear answers, accusing him of avoiding direct responses to parliament. The Green Party had called for the special session to secure a concrete and actionable plan from the federal government regarding the fate of the Afghan refugees.
The unsettled situation of these refugees and delays in their relocation have raised serious questions about Germany’s humanitarian responsibilities and the management of its resettlement commitments. With growing pressure and deportation threats from Pakistan, expectations are mounting for Germany to accelerate its actions.
