Vulnerable Afghans arrive in Germany as Berlin weighs charter flights

A group of Afghan nationals with approved resettlement applications arrived in Germany on Thursday, in the sixth cohort to depart Pakistan since a new German government took office in May.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservative-led coalition suspended a resettlement programme for particularly vulnerable Afghans shortly after entering office as part of a wider crackdown on migration.

However, some Afghans have successfully fought the suspension in court and managed to travel to Germany, with a total of 52 people due to arrive on Thursday at airports in Berlin and Hannover.

The Berlin-bound plane landed in the German capital in the middle of the day, dpa learnt.

Around 1,900 Afghans have been stranded in Islamabad for months or years, waiting for their chance to leave under the German resettlement scheme.

Officials are reportedly considering chartering flights, as was done under the previous government, to bring people to Germany.

The urgency stems from Pakistan's plan to deport Afghan nationals back to Afghanistan from next year, even those with German resettlement approval. No dates for potential charter flights have been set.

The resettlment programme which was suspended by the government had covered former local staff of German institutions, their relatives and others fearing persecution by the Taliban, such as lawyers and journalists.

Some Afghans are still being granted visas despite the suspension, after successfully suing in German courts to enforce their right to entry.

The German government recently offered some Afghans in federal resettlement procedures financial compensation if they withdrew from the programme, but the Interior Ministry said on Wednesday only 10% of those contacted, or 62 people, had accepted the offer so far.

Some recipients criticized the proposal, saying it is hurtful to be asked to "sell" their safety and emphasizing their years of collaboration and service alongside Germany.