A special German government plane left Islamabad, Pakistan, on Wednesday, April 16, carrying Afghan refugees approved for asylum in Germany. The flight is heading to Leipzig, where passengers will be taken to a processing camp before being sent to different German states.
A German Foreign Office spokesperson confirmed that all passengers on the flight have legal permission to enter Germany. Currently, around 2,600 Afghans in Pakistan are waiting to relocate to Germany.
Many of these Afghans worked with German organizations in Afghanistan or were human rights activists, journalists, or lawyers under the previous Afghan government. They now face risks under Taliban rule.
Also read: Expelled Afghan refugees face housing crisis in Afghanistan
However, Germany’s next government plans to stop accepting refugees under current programs, including those from Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Pakistan has started deporting Afghan refugees again, putting many at risk of being forced to return to Afghanistan.
Since the U.S. ended its Afghan refugee program under former President Donald Trump, many Afghans have struggled to find safe relocation options.
