Germany’s conservative government has ignited an international uproar after abruptly reversing its commitment to resettle hundreds of Afghan refugees who had been promised sanctuary in the country, a dramatic policy shift that rights groups warn could cost lives. Under Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Berlin has abandoned two significant resettlement programmes that were initiated in the aftermath of the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, leaving roughly 640 Afghans now waiting in Pakistan without the safe haven they were told would be available to them.
The Afghans affected by the decision include individuals who worked with German forces, aid organisations and media outlets during the long international mission in Afghanistan, as well as women’s rights activists, journalists and other at-risk groups who fled to Pakistan to escape the Taliban’s rule. Authorities in Berlin have communicated to those on the waiting lists that “there is no longer any political interest” in their admission, effectively nullifying earlier commitments made under Germany’s previous centre-left government.
Since taking office in May, Chancellor Merz has pursued a hardline migration stance aimed at placating voter concerns over immigration and blunting support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). The dismantling of these special admission tracks is part of that strategy and aligns with broader tightening of asylum and immigration policy in Germany. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has defended the shift, arguing that only those with legally binding promises should be prioritised and that the government must demonstrate seriousness in controlling migration flows.
Human rights organisations have characterised the policy reversal as a profound betrayal of trust. Campaigners from groups such as Pro Asyl have called the decision “ice cold”, citing the dire risks that await those now stranded in Pakistan if they are forced back to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, where persecution, abuse and even death are possible. More than 250 NGOs, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have issued urgent appeals urging Berlin to honour its obligations and evacuate all those previously accepted under the programme before Pakistan’s year-end deadline for their departure is enforced.
The shift has left up to 1,800 Afghans approved for relocation in a precarious situation, with only a small fraction still deemed eligible because of “legally binding” commitments, such as local staff contracts. Even those remaining on eligibility lists face extended uncertainty, as security vetting and slow visa processing further delay departures. A recent German constitutional court ruling has compelled faster consideration of at least one high-profile visa case involving an Afghan judge and his family, underscoring the mounting legal and ethical tensions surrounding Berlin’s policy.
The move has also unsettled diplomatic observers, with critics warning that it could undermine confidence in Germany’s reliability as a partner in future foreign missions, especially for local collaborators abroad. Many Afghans who had helped German forces during the international mission are now left in limbo, their future uncertain as the government shifts course amid domestic political pressures.
Beyond Germany’s borders, the situation is compounded by escalating deportations of Afghan migrants by Pakistan, which has been returning thousands of Afghan refugees to their homeland in recent weeks, raising fears that those stranded could be caught in broader repatriation drives. The convergence of Germany’s policy reversal with Pakistan’s crackdown amplifies the urgency of international calls for action to protect vulnerable Afghans facing mounting threats and shrinking avenues of refuge.
