BERLIN — The German government has come under scrutiny after reports surfaced that it is offering financial incentives to Afghan refugees in Pakistan who agree to withdraw from a previously approved resettlement programme to Germany.
The initiative, originally established by the former German administration, was designed to help Afghans at risk including journalists, lawyers, and human rights defenders find safety in Germany. However, since conservative Chancellor Friedrich Merz took office in May, the programme has been put on hold, leaving roughly 2,000 Afghans stranded in Pakistan.
According to Airbridge Kabul, an advocacy group assisting Afghans awaiting relocation, the refugees recently received letters offering them money and logistical support if they voluntarily give up their right to resettlement.
For example, a single woman enrolled in the programme has reportedly been offered €1,500 (about $1,700) to remain in Pakistan and an additional €5,000 if she decides to move to Afghanistan or a third country.
A spokesperson for Germany’s Interior Ministry confirmed that “offers are being made under the framework of voluntary return programmes to Afghanistan or other third countries.”
Humanitarian workers have condemned the move, calling it deeply insensitive and morally troubling.
“I’ve been trembling all over and can’t stop crying,” one refugee reportedly wrote in a message shared by Airbridge Kabul’s Eva Beyer. “I don’t want money or bread. I just want to live in safety.”
The controversy unfolds amid Pakistan’s escalating crackdown on undocumented Afghans. In recent months, thousands have been detained or deported, including over 200 refugees who were part of Germany’s relocation programme.
Despite a reported understanding between Berlin and Islamabad to halt deportations of listed refugees until the end of the year, Airbridge Kabul says 17 arrests were recorded in late October worsening tensions already heightened by recent border clashes.
The organization also shared that the letter sent to refugees acknowledges delays in the relocation process, stating that “procedures in Pakistan must be completed by the end of 2025”, but admits there is “no guarantee that all cases will be processed in time.”
While a few groups of refugees have managed to reach Germany through legal challenges including a batch of 14 individuals who arrived last Thursday many others remain stuck in uncertainty, torn between accepting the cash offer or continuing to wait for a promise that may never materialize.
The move has drawn criticism from human rights advocates, who say Germany’s new approach risks abandoning those it once pledged to protect.
