Despite a recent expedited ruling from the Berlin Administrative Court, approximately 2,400 Afghan refugees currently stranded in Pakistan are unlikely to receive swift German visa approvals. Interior State Secretary Daniela Ludwig (CSU) responded to a written inquiry from Green Party parliamentarian Schahina Gambir on Wednesday, stating that the Federal Ministry of the Interior is engaged in “ongoing review” of the intake procedures originating from Afghanistan, according to a report in the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”.
The coalition agreement between the conservative union and the Social Democrats stipulated that voluntary intake programs, including those for Afghanistan, should be discontinued where possible. The agreement further notes that consideration is ongoing concerning how to implement this objective regarding intake procedures from Afghanistan.
On Tuesday, the Berlin Administrative Court ruled that Germany’s previous intake commitments remain valid, obligating the government to issue visas for at least one Afghan family. The future trajectory for the remaining individuals awaiting processing remains uncertain.
Furthermore, the resumption of security checks necessary for the refugees’ onward travel remains unresolved. In a separate response from earlier in July, Interior State Secretary Christoph de Vries (CDU) indicated that “all entries from Afghanistan via Pakistan” are suspended. Whether security personnel will be deployed to conduct interviews required for visa issuance depends on the outcome of the ongoing program review.
Green Party interior policy specialist Gambir has strongly criticized this prolonged state of limbo for those waiting, characterizing each additional day that vulnerable individuals must endure in Pakistan as a “damning indictment” of the German government.
