Germany offers cash incentives to Afghans to withdraw from relocation program
Germany has offered financial incentives to hundreds of Afghan nationals stranded in Pakistan, encouraging them to withdraw from its relocation program
KABUL, Afghanistan (MNTV) — Germany has offered financial incentives to hundreds of Afghan nationals stranded in Pakistan, encouraging them to withdraw from its relocation program in exchange for cash and short-term assistance, German media reported Tuesday.
According to Bild and Die Welt, the plan — implemented by the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) — offers up to €6,500 for single applicants and €10,000 for families who renounce their right to resettlement.
Participants must formally withdraw by November 17, 2025, after which re-entry is barred. Incentives include €2,500 in immediate aid in Pakistan and up to €10,000 in “fresh start” funding upon return to Afghanistan or transfer to a third country.
The Interior Ministry said the plan was introduced because of “limited time” to process all pending relocations. Around 1,900 Afghans with valid entry approvals remain in Pakistan awaiting transfer.
Migration rights advocates criticized the move as coercive. “Instead of offering this aid, the German government should focus on faster relocation,” said activist Juma Khan Poya.
Despite criticism, officials confirmed a new group of Afghan evacuees arrived in Hanover earlier this week. Since 2021, Germany has relocated 36,300 Afghans under various programs.
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