The German government has reportedly halted the entry of hundreds of Afghan citizens into the country in the run-up to the Bundestag election. According to a report by the Welt am Sonntag, citing security sources, two charter flights scheduled for the coming weeks were cancelled, with passengers on board who had obtained visas for Germany through various German asylum programs.
When asked for comment, the Foreign Office stated that “initial flight plans” had been changed and that such flights were always subject to a certain degree of flexibility, citing reasons such as airport conditions, accommodation capacities and the availability of aircraft. Diplomatic sources, as quoted in the Welt am Sonntag, have referred to the move as a “pre-election maneuver” with the further mass influx of Afghans deemed politically unfeasible in the wake of recent attacks.
Since the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021, Germany has regularly taken in “especially endangered Afghans.” As Berlin has no diplomatic relations with the Islamist regime, the GIZ, a development organization, brings those in need to Pakistan, where they undergo a security screening and, if no objections arise, are flown to Germany. To date, this has affected around 35,500 people. According to the Welt am Sonntag, approximately 3,000 Afghans with a prospect of a German visa are currently in Islamabad.
The entire system has been in disrepute since it became known in 2024 that the public prosecutor’s office is investigating AA officials, as it is alleged that Afghans, despite lacking or forged documents, were allowed to enter the country. High-ranking officials of the security authorities have repeatedly expressed the concern that, through government programs, Afghans could be allowed to enter Germany who pose a threat to public safety in the country.