The German government is offering financial compensation to Afghan citizens awaiting German visas in exchange for voluntarily giving up their right to enter the country.
Tagesschau Gate noted that in this way, German authorities seek to encourage Afghans in Pakistan to abandon the idea of moving to Germany, thereby exerting indirect pressure on those who are waiting.
Some 2,100 Afghans are believed to still be awaiting entry, having previously received official assurances through various humanitarian initiatives since the Taliban came to power.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadeful spoke in September about the need to fulfill obligations to the Afghans, but emphasized the importance of conducting thorough security checks, the responsibility of which lies with the Interior Ministry, which has significantly delayed the process. It should be noted that since the change in the German government, only a small number of Afghans can enter Germany according to standard procedures, while the rest must apply for visas through legal action.
According to ARD, due to slow progress, the German Foreign Ministry and the Interior Ministry began sending letters with an alternative offer – monetary compensation in exchange for refusing to wait. About 700 people on the “human rights list” and “transition program” received similar offer letters, providing payments for voluntarily refusing to continue participating in the resettlement program.
The amount of compensation varies depending on the composition of the family. For example, a family with four children was provided 2,750 euros in Pakistan and nearly 11,500 euros upon return to Afghanistan, as well as “organizational support” that included assistance with paperwork, transfers, medical assistance, housing and food for the first three months after return.
However, there is a condition: accepting the offer will result in complete exclusion from the program, and the deadline for a decision is November 17.
