Full Breakdown
Germany’s Five-Year Test: Keeping Promises to Afghan Local Staff
8/12/2026, 11:48:00 AM
Background and the Original Commitment
After the Taliban seized Kabul on August 15, 2021, the German government announced that it would relocate all Afghan “local staff” who had assisted German forces and aid programmes. Eleven days later, then-Foreign Minister Heiko Maas declared, “Our work continues until all those for whom we carry responsibility in Afghanistan are safe.” “Our work continues until all those for whom we carry responsibility in Afghanistan are safe.” — Minister Heiko Maas, from then-foreign minister
Mixed Implementation Five Years On
By June of this year, more than 37,000 Afghan nationals—former employees of the Bundeswehr, the Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, journalists and activists—had reached Germany. Yet roughly 600 remain stranded in Pakistan and Kabul, living in temporary shelters and unable to travel. The new coalition government formed in 2025 halted the resettlement programme, prompting a two-page appeal to Chancellor Friedrich Merz that described the situation as “an enormous strain.”
In response, Foreign Minister Alexander Dobrindt offered a one-time payment of up to €2,500 for those who forgo relocation, plus up to €10,000 for a return to Afghanistan or a third country. About 300 individuals have accepted the cash deal, abandoning hopes of a German future.
The Federal Constitutional Court ruled in July 2026 that the blanket revocation of the admission programme violated the constitutional ban on arbitrariness, ordering the Interior Ministry to assess each case individually. The Interior Ministry maintains that the court “largely aligns” with the government’s view that admission decisions can be altered when political interests shift, while also noting the court’s instruction to consider personal circumstances.
NGO Assistance and Ongoing Legal Wins
The German NGO Kabul-Luftbrücke (Kabul Air Bridge) has shifted from emergency evacuations to legal support. Since September 1, 2025, it has secured more than 200 court victories, enabling 1,018 Afghans to travel to Germany. The organization reports that about 75 % of those still waiting are women and children, whose education and future prospects are severely limited. “About 75% of the people who are now still waiting are women and children. That means for all these women and children, who are not attending school, who can no longer build an independent life or pursue a career, the way to a secure future has been blocked,” — Pakistan. Eva Beyer
Official Statements & Responses
- Heiko Maas (2021): Emphasised Germany’s responsibility for Afghan staff safety.
- Alexander Dobrindt (2025): Proposed financial incentives to discourage further migration to Germany.
- German Interior Ministry (post-court ruling): Argues that political considerations justify programme changes but must now incorporate individual assessments as instructed by the court.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Our work continues until all those for whom we carry responsibility in Afghanistan are safe.” — Minister Heiko Maas, from then-foreign minister
- “About 75% of the people who are now still waiting are women and children. That means for all these women and children, who are not attending school, who can no longer build an independent life or pursue a career, the way to a secure future has been blocked,” — Pakistan. Eva Beyer
