Aircraft carrying more than 40 individuals from Afghanistan arrives in Germany

The Pakistani authorities have initiated the deportation of Afghans from the German admission program, creating a sense of urgency in the matter. This decision comes as over 2,100 individuals, currently residing in Pakistan, await the completion of their admission procedures, with only 200 having made it to Afghanistan.

The program, designed to offer a safe haven to Afghans who fear persecution by the Islamic Taliban, includes former local forces of German institutions and their relatives, as well as Afghans who had previously worked as lawyers, journalists, or human rights advocates.

However, the court has permitted a temporary halt in the admission procedures for local forces and those at risk due to their previous activities. This decision has left approximately 90% of the individuals yet to complete the admission process in limbo.

In a recent development, the Federal Foreign Office successfully appealed against a decision by the Berlin Administrative Court in an expedited procedure. As a result, 45 Afghan nationals, who had completed the admission procedure and the security check, were granted visas and have since arrived in Germany for the first time since the start of the black-red coalition.

These arrivals occurred in Hannover via a connecting flight in Istanbul. Notably, some of the affected persons were still able to travel with their relatives despite the stop due to lawsuits filed in Germany to enforce their entry.

The organization "Kabul Air Bridge" has been providing partial support to the affected persons. However, the primary organization supporting Afghan people who could still enter Germany despite the stop of the official admission program is the civil society group "Kabul Luftbrücke," which collaborates with the federal government.

The black-red federal government halted the admission program for particularly endangered Afghan women and men in May. The programs were based on political decisions, and the federal government has the right to review whether the earlier political interest in admitting applicants still exists.

The Higher Administrative Court of Berlin-Brandenburg has granted the federal government broad decision-making authority in the issue of visas for Afghans. The court case involved a former high-ranking judge from Afghanistan, as well as his wife and their four children. The court ruled that authorities may review earlier decisions regarding admission procedures as long as they have not yet assured admission and legally bound themselves.

The court ruling does not specify a new timeline for the resumption of admission procedures, leaving many Afghan families, who have been waiting for months or years in Islamabad for their exit, in uncertainty. The number of pending emergency proceedings in court is around 85.

The plane landing at Hannover-Langenhagen Airport around 2 pm marked a significant step in the ongoing saga, as 45 Afghan nationals finally found their way to safety in Germany. The hope is that this will pave the way for more individuals to be granted visas and reunited with their families in Germany.