Berlin, Dec 22, (dpa/GNA) – A charter flight organized by the German government, brought 141 Afghans to Germany on Monday.
A spokesman for the Interior Ministry confirmed that the plane landed in Hanover. The arrivals had received a promise of admission after the Taliban took power and have now travelled from Islamabad to Lower Saxony. From there they will later be distributed among the German federal states.
Pakistan has given the German government until the end of the year to complete the admission procedures. After that, it said, the people would be deported to Afghanistan. However, the border with the neighbouring country is currently largely closed.
The Taliban regained power in the Afghan capital Kabul in August 2021. The German government promised former local staff of German institutions and other people considered to be particularly at risk that they would be accepted into Germany.
However, the coalition agreement between the CDU, CSU and SPD states: “We will end voluntary federal admission programmes as far as possible (e.g. Afghanistan) and will not launch any new programmes.”
After a number of people from the so-called Federal Admission Programme Afghanistan successfully sued for visas, entry into Germany was once again organized for these people and for people in similar situations.
Around 650 people from Afghanistan who had received commitments recently, received a final rejection from the federal government – along with an offer to help them return to Afghanistan or leave for another country willing to accept them, including financial assistance.
There are now around 45 people in Pakistan who are still in the local staff procedure and 264 people in the federal admission programme.
GNA