News item | 23-02-2022 | 17:19
In recent days, 294 Afghans with final destination the Netherlands arrived in Pakistan by land. This concerns persons and families of whom not everyone has valid travel documents. The Pakistani authorities have made an exception for this specific group and have given permission to travel to the Netherlands via that country.
Diplomatic consultation
Minister Hoekstra of Foreign Affairs: “It is complicated to help people without a passport to come from Afghanistan to the Netherlands. Thanks in part to the Pakistani authorities, this has now been possible for this group. The government will continue to make every effort to transfer eligible Afghans to the Netherlands.”
Permission
Preparations for this operation started in October. After intensive diplomatic consultations, the Netherlands received an offer from Pakistan to submit a list of Afghans who were eligible for transfer to the Netherlands, but who did not have valid travel documents. After permission from those involved, the ministry provided the names to the Pakistani authorities in November. After a telephone consultation between Minister Hoekstra and his Pakistani counterpart and during a recent visit by Secretary-General Paul Huijts to Pakistan, the green light was given.
Operation
As soon as official permission was given, the Afghan families involved were informed and instructed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In the days from 19 to 23 February they crossed the border with the help of the Dutch embassy. In Pakistan they are received by the Dutch embassy in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration. The Dutch government is committed to allowing this group to travel to the Netherlands as soon as possible. More information will follow about when and how that happens.
Charter
The group consists of a number of Dutch residents, Afghans who have performed high-profile work for the Netherlands as an interpreter or in another position in an international military or police mission, Afghan NGO employees who fall under the special provision as described in the letter to Parliament of 11 October and members of their nuclear families. In January, the Netherlands received permission from the Pakistani authorities for a first group of 35 Afghans to allow them to enter the country without valid travel documents. Most of them were able to travel to the Netherlands via Hanover last Friday on a German charter.
It is not yet possible to help other Afghans without a passport who are eligible for transfer to the Netherlands. The Dutch government continues to look for solutions to this and in the meantime advises people to apply for a passport where possible. It is not possible to say exactly how many Afghans are still eligible for transfer to the Netherlands, because testing is still taking place at various parts of the Dutch government.