Berlin / Islamabad – The German government has offered cash payments to Afghan nationals stranded in Pakistan if they abandon efforts to immigrate to Germany under a resettlement program for vulnerable groups. The program targets Afghans who previously worked with German forces in Afghanistan and are at risk under Taliban rule.

Approximately 2,000 Afghans have been approved for relocation under the scheme but have been stranded in Pakistan for months or even years, awaiting resettlement.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz suspended the program in May 2025 to signal his administration’s strict stance on migration, amid rising domestic concern over immigration and the growing influence of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).

“If we assume that people have no possibility of being admitted to Germany, we offer them some perspective, and this is linked to making a financial offer for a voluntary return to Afghanistan or another third country,” said Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt.

Afghans with binding approval to enter Germany under the suspended program will still be allowed entry, following security checks. Others are being offered financial incentives to return voluntarily to Afghanistan or a third country.

The Cash Offer and Reactions

German media report that the payments amount to several thousand euros, with initial installments paid in Pakistan and further payments provided upon arrival in Afghanistan or a third country.

The offer has sparked criticism and disappointment among Afghans in Pakistan. One recipient described it as a “shameful and foolish deal that jeopardises our future and that of our children.”

Legal Exceptions

A group of 31 Afghans recently arrived in Hanover, Germany, under legally binding court orders. Some Afghans have also successfully sued the government to enforce their right to resettlement.

Program Purpose

The resettlement program was designed for Afghans at risk under Taliban rule, including former German staff, journalists, lawyers, and human rights workers. It reflects Germany’s ongoing effort to balance humanitarian obligations with domestic political pressures over migration.