The Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said Germany wants to complete most of the remaining paperwork in December so the Afghans can enter the country as soon as possible. He added that talks with Pakistani authorities are ongoing and the move aims to resolve long-pending cases before the end of the year.

These Afghans were accepted under a refugee program launched by Germany’s previous government. However, the process was frozen after Chancellor Friedrich Merz took office in May, leaving many refugees stranded in Pakistan.

Most of those included in the scheme either worked with German forces in Afghanistan or were considered at serious risk after the Taliban returned to power in 2021. This includes journalists, human rights activists, and their family members.

Pakistan has given a deadline until the end of the year for these cases to be resolved. If no decision is made, the Afghans could face deportation back to Afghanistan. Dobrindt said some cases may still extend into the next year, but stressed that Germany is trying to move as quickly as possible.

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Last week, Germany’s interior ministry informed 650 people that they would no longer be admitted. The new government said allowing them in was no longer in Germany’s “interest”.

The government has also offered money to Afghans still waiting in Pakistan if they agree to drop their claim to settle in Germany. By mid-November, only 62 people had accepted the offer.

Earlier this month, more than 250 organizations, including Amnesty International, Save the Children, and Human Rights Watch, said around 1,800 Afghans linked to the program remain stuck in Pakistan. They urged Germany to act quickly and honor its promises.