Charter Flight Brings Afghan Evacuees to Germany, Sparking Debate on Resettlement Programs

Only 27 of the 155 passengers were former local staff, with broader questions raised about the scope and cost of evacuation efforts.

A charter flight carrying 155 Afghan citizens, including 27 former local staff and their families, arrived in Berlin from Islamabad on Tuesday.
The majority of passengers were categorized as 'particularly vulnerable individuals,' including women, children, and those linked to German organizations.
Criticism has emerged over the limited number of former local staff evacuated, as well as the program's rising costs, which have exceeded hundreds of millions of euros since 2021.
Approximately 3,000 Afghan citizens with approved resettlement promises remain in Pakistan, facing visa expirations and deteriorating living conditions.
The German government has ceased issuing new resettlement commitments, leaving future evacuation efforts uncertain as political divisions persist.