Germany Offers Thousands of Euros to Afghan Refugees in Pakistan to Withdraw from Resettlement Program
Berlin: In a surprising move, Germany has offered cash payments to around 2,000 Afghan refugees stranded in Pakistan in exchange for voluntarily withdrawing from its resettlement program.
According to a report by the French news agency, these Afghans were previously accepted under the former German government’s program but have been stranded in Pakistan since May after the program was frozen under the new conservative Chancellor, Friedrich Merz.
A spokesperson for Germany’s Interior Ministry confirmed that under the voluntary withdrawal offer, an unmarried woman could receive €1,500 while remaining in Pakistan, and an additional €5,000 if she relocates to Afghanistan or a third country.
The resettlement program was initially designed for Afghans who had worked with German forces or those at risk under Taliban rule, including journalists, lawyers, and human rights activists.
