Germany may pause evacuations of at-risk Afghan allies
Germany may pause evacuations of at-risk Afghan allies, aiming to reassess current procedures and develop alternative resettlement strategies by June.
The German newspaper Welt am Sonntag has reported that parliamentary members of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Christian Social Union (CSU) have called on the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) to halt the evacuation of Afghan nationals until June. Their goal is to create an alternative plan for the ongoing evacuation process.
Ruben Neugebauer, founder of the NGO “Kabul Luftbrücke,” warned that such a suspension could have deadly consequences for those who trusted Germany and are now being left behind. He emphasized the potential life-threatening impact of abandoning evacuation promises.
Andrea Lindholz, deputy of the CSU, stated that each Afghan applicant’s case should be carefully reviewed. She added that the objective is to conclude these evacuation programs, but those who have already been promised relocation should be considered individually and thoroughly.
According to Welt am Sonntag, following the Taliban takeover, the German federal government has spent over 182 million euros on Afghan evacuation efforts. With the suspension of further evacuations, Germany is now considering two new scenarios: canceling current asylum cases or reassessing its previous promises.
In the first scenario, pending cases will be individually re-evaluated and could be rejected if the threat level is deemed insufficient. The second scenario explores alternative resettlement mechanisms, such as transferring individuals through third countries or placing them in safe zones—although these alternatives remain vague and undeveloped.
Currently, approximately 4,800 Afghans in Afghanistan and Pakistan are waiting to be relocated to Germany under promised resettlement programs. Many of them are former employees of the German military and associated institutions, relying on Germany’s commitment for safe passage.
This situation reflects growing political pressure and internal debate in Germany regarding its responsibilities toward Afghan allies. While the CDU/CSU coalition pushes for stricter review and eventual phase-out of the evacuation programs, human rights groups and NGOs continue to advocate for honoring Germany’s past commitments. The coming months will determine whether Germany maintains its humanitarian stance or shifts toward a more restrictive asylum policy.
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