A group of 155 Afghan nationals who previously worked for the German government were transferred from Islamabad, Pakistan, to Berlin on February 25, according to German media reports. 

The group, which included former local staff members employed by the German government in Afghanistan before the withdrawal of German forces in 2021, travelled via Dubai due to the lack of direct flights between Afghanistan and Germany.  Another group of Afghan refugees is expected to follow next month, also from Islamabad.

The relocation has drawn criticism from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Christian Social Union (CSU), with politician Thorsten Frei expressing concern that the German government is prioritizing the relocation of Afghans while neglecting the deportation of Afghan criminals.

Germany has already accepted over 48,000 Afghans since the Taliban takeover, with 38,000 identified as “at risk” by the German government. Approximately 3,000 more Afghans with German admission permits are currently awaiting transfer from Islamabad.

This ongoing relocation process comes amidst a changing political landscape in Germany.  The recent election victory of the CDU, led by Friedrich Merz, and the significant gains made by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) have raised concerns about potential shifts in immigration policies. 

In Pakistan, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar recently announced that if western countries refuse to take in Afghan refugees as promised, the government of Pakistan will be forced to turn them back to Afghanistan.