Afghan Refugees Stuck in Pakistan as Germany Suspends Entry Program

Key Takeaways

• Germany suspended its Afghan humanitarian admission program indefinitely in July 2025 amid political shifts.
• About 2,400 accepted refugees wait in Pakistan with no travel approval; 17,000 applications are frozen.
• Pakistan escalated deportations for Afghans, risking forced returns to dangerous Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.

Thousands of Afghan refugees are stranded in Pakistan as of July 2025, their lives on hold after Germany suspended its humanitarian admission program for at-risk Afghans. This sudden halt has left many in a state of fear and uncertainty, caught between Pakistan’s tough deportation policies and Germany’s closed doors. The situation is the result of political changes in Germany, stricter rules in Pakistan, and worsening conditions for Afghans both in exile and back home under Taliban rule.

Germany’s Humanitarian Admission Program: Sudden Suspension

In May 2025, Germany’s new center-right government, led by Friedrich Merz, announced the indefinite suspension of its humanitarian admission program for Afghans. This program, which started in October 2022, was designed to help up to 1,000 vulnerable Afghans each month. It focused on women, human rights defenders, and others at risk under Taliban rule. The program was a lifeline for many, offering hope of safety and a new start in Germany.

However, after national elections where migration became a heated topic, the new government decided to put the program on hold. As of July 2025, there is no clear timeline for when, or if, the program will resume. The German Foreign Ministry has said that the suspension is part of a government review, but no details have been shared about when this review might end.

Who Is Affected?

• 2,400 Afghan refugees in Pakistan have already been accepted into the German program and are waiting for travel approval.
• 17,000 more applicants are in the early stages of the process, but their cases are now frozen.
• In over two years, fewer than 1,600 Afghans have actually been resettled to Germany, far below the program’s original goal.

The approval rate for Afghan asylum seekers in Germany has also dropped sharply, from 74% in 2024 to just 52% in early 2025. This shows a clear tightening of Germany’s asylum policies.

Real-Life Impact

People like Kimia, a 25-year-old artist and women’s rights advocate, have had their embassy interviews suddenly cancelled. Many accepted refugees are living in guesthouses in Islamabad, with Germany paying for their accommodation, food, and medical care. But they have no idea when, or if, they will be allowed to travel to Germany. Their lives are on hold, and every day brings new anxiety.

Pakistan’s Deportation Crackdown

While Afghan refugees wait for answers from Germany, they face growing danger in Pakistan. The Pakistani government has stepped up its campaign to deport Afghan refugees, even those with legal documents like Afghan Citizenship Cards (ACC) or Proof of Registration (PoR) cards. As of April 2025, all ACC holders and unregistered Afghans are at risk of immediate deportation, regardless of whether they have been accepted for resettlement in Germany or other countries.

Pakistan’s “Illegal Foreigners’ Repatriation Plan”

• In April 2025, Pakistan began the second phase of its plan to remove all Afghans without valid visas.
• This includes people waiting for third-country resettlement, like those accepted by Germany.
• The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and human rights groups have criticized these rushed expulsions. Many of those being forced out have lived in Pakistan for decades and are given little warning or support.

What Happens to Deportees?

Afghans sent back to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan face very tough conditions:

• 22.9 million people in Afghanistan need humanitarian help.
• 48% of the population lives below the poverty line.
• Girls are still not allowed to go to school beyond sixth grade.
• Camps like Omari in Torkham offer only short-term shelter, and most returnees quickly face hardship and insecurity.

Why Did Germany Suspend the Program?

The decision to suspend the program came after a shift in German politics. The new government, led by Friedrich Merz, has promised stricter immigration controls. This is in response to public anger after several violent incidents involving asylum seekers, including Afghans.

Key policy changes include:

• Ending voluntary admission programs for Afghans.
• Suspending family reunifications for those with only subsidiary protection (a lower form of asylum).
• Speeding up deportations of Afghan migrants with criminal records.

The German Interior Ministry says these steps are needed for security and to help with integration. However, critics argue that these policies leave the most vulnerable people with nowhere to turn.

The Human Cost: Voices from the Ground

Afghan refugees in Pakistan are feeling desperate. Many are women’s rights activists, journalists, or former employees of Western organizations. They fear being sent back to Afghanistan, where they could face repression or even death.

One refugee shared, “We have done everything right. We followed the rules, got accepted by Germany, and now we are stuck. We can’t go forward, and we can’t go back.”

NGOs and UN agencies have spoken out against both Germany’s suspension and Pakistan’s deportations. They say these actions break international promises to protect refugees and put lives at risk.

What Happens to Refugees Now?

For Those Already Accepted by Germany

• They remain in Pakistan, living in guesthouses paid for by the German government.
• Embassy interviews and travel plans are on hold.
• No new cases are being processed.
• If their Pakistani visas expire before they can travel, they risk being deported to Afghanistan, even if Germany has already accepted them.

For New Applicants

• The program is not accepting new applications.
• 17,000 people who started the process are now in limbo, with no progress and no guidance on what to do next.

The Numbers: A Snapshot

Here’s a summary of the current situation for Afghan refugees in Pakistan waiting for German resettlement (as of July 2025):

Stakeholder Perspectives

German Government

• The Foreign Ministry continues to pay for accommodation and basic needs for accepted refugees in Pakistan but has not promised to resume admissions.
• The Interior Ministry points to security and integration concerns as reasons for the suspension.

Pakistani Government

• Is pushing ahead with mass deportations, including of those waiting for resettlement, as part of a domestic strategy to address economic problems and public unrest.

Afghan Refugees

• Are deeply frustrated and afraid, facing indefinite waiting and the risk of being sent back to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.

NGOs and UN Agencies

• Criticize both Germany and Pakistan for failing to protect refugees.
• Call for urgent action to restart resettlement and treat refugees more humanely.

What Are the Practical Implications?

The suspension of Germany’s program and Pakistan’s deportation drive have created a humanitarian crisis for Afghan refugees. Many are now stuck in Pakistan with no legal status, no way forward, and the constant threat of being sent back to a dangerous situation in Afghanistan.

Key practical issues include:

• Legal limbo: Refugees accepted by Germany cannot travel, and those in the application process have no information about their future.
• Risk of deportation: If Pakistani visas expire, refugees can be deported, even if they have been accepted by Germany.
• No new pathways: The program is not taking new applications, and there is no official advice on other options.

What Does the Future Hold?

At this time, there is no clear timeline for when Germany’s admission program might resume. The government review is ongoing, but the political climate in Germany suggests that the program may not reopen soon.

Without action, more Afghan refugees accepted by Germany could be deported from Pakistan before they have a chance to travel. This risk is growing as Pakistani authorities continue mass expulsions.

International organizations are calling for urgent action, but so far, neither Germany nor Pakistan has changed course.

What Can Refugees and Supporters Do?

For those affected, it is important to stay informed and seek help from official sources:

• German Embassy in Islamabad: For questions about individual cases, refugees can contact the German Embassy in Islamabad.
• UNHCR Pakistan: For legal help and protection, refugees can reach out to UNHCR Pakistan.
• Pakistani Ministry of Interior: For information about visas and deportation policies, visit the Ministry of Interior.

International Law and Humanitarian Concerns

Under international law, countries are not supposed to send refugees back to places where they face serious harm. This is called the principle of “non-refoulement.” Many experts and human rights groups say that both Germany and Pakistan are failing to meet their obligations by leaving Afghan refugees in such a dangerous position.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the indefinite suspension of Germany’s program, combined with Pakistan’s mass deportations, has created a crisis for Afghan refugees who are now caught between two governments unwilling to provide them with safety or a future. The situation is likely to get worse unless there is a major change in policy or international intervention, as legal ways to find safety are closing and the risk of forced return to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan is rising.

The Bigger Picture: Why This Matters

The fate of Afghan refugees in Pakistan is not just a local issue. It reflects broader challenges facing the international community when it comes to protecting people fleeing war and persecution. When countries like Germany and Pakistan close their doors, vulnerable people are left with nowhere to go.

This crisis also shows how quickly things can change for refugees. A program that once offered hope can be suspended overnight, leaving thousands in limbo. Political changes in one country can have life-or-death consequences for people halfway around the world.

What Needs to Happen Next?

• Germany should provide a clear timeline for reviewing and possibly restarting its humanitarian admission program.
• Pakistan should halt deportations of refugees who have been accepted for resettlement or are in the process.
• International organizations and other countries should step up support for Afghan refugees, both in Pakistan and in Afghanistan.
• Refugees need clear information about their rights and options.

Conclusion: Lives on Hold

For thousands of Afghan refugees in Pakistan, life is now a waiting game. They have followed the rules, been accepted by Germany, and yet find themselves stuck, with no way forward and the constant threat of being sent back to danger. The suspension of Germany’s program and Pakistan’s deportation drive have created a humanitarian crisis that demands urgent action.

For up-to-date information, refugees and supporters should monitor official government and UNHCR channels, as well as trusted news sources covering migration and refugee issues in South Asia and Europe. The German Embassy in Islamabad remains a key contact point for those affected.

The world is watching to see whether Germany, Pakistan, and the international community will step up to protect those most at risk, or whether Afghan refugees will remain caught in a cycle of uncertainty and fear.

Learn Today

Humanitarian Admission Program → A government initiative to resettle vulnerable refugees in safer countries.
Subsidiary Protection → A limited asylum status offering protection but fewer rights than full refugee status.
Deportation → The forced removal of a person from a country for violating immigration laws.
Non-refoulement → An international legal principle forbidding return of refugees to places of danger.
Proof of Registration (PoR) → A card issued by Pakistan to registered Afghan refugees for legal residence.

This Article in a Nutshell

Thousands of Afghan refugees in Pakistan face indefinite waits as Germany suspends humanitarian admissions. Pakistan’s deportation crackdown adds danger, leaving refugees trapped between closed borders and rising threats, sparking urgent calls for international intervention to protect vulnerable populations at risk under Taliban rule and worsening regional policies.
— By VisaVerge.com