A chartered flight carrying 47 vulnerable Afghan nationals landed in Hanover, Germany, on Monday afternoon The group is comprised of ten families, including 19 women, 20 minors and eight men
According to the Foreign Office, approximately 2,100 Afghan citizens remain in Pakistan, having received assurances of acceptance in Germany These individuals often served as local personnel supporting the German Armed Forces
The arrival of the flight has prompted criticism of the German government’s rhetoric surrounding humanitarian flights from Afghanistan Omid Nouripour, Vice President of the German Bundestag, described previous statements suggesting no further flights would occur as “a regrettable election campaign tactic” He argues the government could have navigated the situation more effectively had it adopted a nuanced approach to the issue facing those with legitimate claims for protection
Nouripour emphasized that this isn’t simply a matter of immigration policy or legal procedure, but one of upholding commitments He asserted that Germany’s credibility on the international stage depends on honoring promises made to local personnel who assisted the Bundeswehr, extending those assurances to their families as well He highlighted that individuals were encouraged to collaborate with German forces with the understanding that they and their families would be protected and failing to do so jeopardizes future cooperation