KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Germany has relocated another group of Afghan refugees from Pakistan, transferring 32 people to Berlin as part of its ongoing, scaled-down evacuation process, German media reported.
Deutsche Welle reported on Saturday that the refugees departed Islamabad and are scheduled to be resettled in Berlin. A spokesperson for Germany’s Interior Ministry confirmed the transfer, saying all individuals held binding admission commitments from the German government.
According to the report, the refugees had waited several years in Pakistan for their visas and relocation arrangements to be finalized.
Germany’s current administration, which took office in May 2025, suspended wider admissions of Afghan refugees. Transfers are now limited to individuals who were approved under the previous federal admission program and successfully secured visas through legal appeals.
According to figures cited by Deutsche Welle, those granted admission commitments include around 220 former local employees, 60 individuals listed under a “human rights list,” approximately 600 people linked to the Bridge Programme, and nearly 1,000 approved under Germany’s various admission schemes.
Berlin initiated these programs after the Taliban’s 2021 takeover, prioritizing at-risk groups such as former local staff, journalists, lawyers, and human rights defenders. The government has said it will not launch new programs but will continue processing existing commitments.
The relocation occurs amid growing pressure from human rights organizations, which have repeatedly urged Germany and other Western governments to accelerate transfer efforts. Many Afghans remain in limbo in Pakistan, facing prolonged uncertainty, security risks, and the threat of deportation back to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.