In a midnight statement on 28 February 2026, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs urged “immediate de-escalation” after a surge in cross-border shelling between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Although framed as a diplomatic appeal, the communiqué set alarm bells ringing in German boardrooms: both countries sit on critical logistics corridors for the automotive and chemicals sectors, and several Mittelstand firms maintain engineering teams in Karachi and Kabul. While no travel ban was declared, the Council reminded member-states that Afghan territory “must not be used to threaten or attack other countries” and pressed all actors to protect civilian infrastructure. Germany’s Foreign Office is expected to update its own travel advisories within days; insurers have already indicated that war-risk surcharges could rise by up to 30 % for shipments transiting the Khyber Pass.
![EU issues de-escalation call on Afghanistan-Pakistan clashes, warns of regional travel risk]()
At this juncture, many firms are also double-checking visa validity for staff who may need to relocate at short notice. VisaHQ’s German portal (https://www.visahq.com/germany/) can streamline those checks, offering real-time eligibility tools and expedited processing options for Indian, Gulf and EU travel documents—services that become invaluable if evacuation windows narrow suddenly.
German employers with expatriate staff in the region should review safe-haven contracts and confirm that local evacuation providers can secure over-land routes into India or the Gulf should airports close. Under Germany’s Duty-of-Care jurisprudence (BGB § 618), failure to plan could expose companies to liability claims if employees are caught in a deteriorating security environment. Immigration practitioners also note that any sustained conflict could spur new asylum applications. Berlin’s interior ministry has already floated a contingency quota of 5 000 humanitarian visas, though that would require Bundesrat endorsement and could reignite domestic debates over reception capacity.
At this juncture, many firms are also double-checking visa validity for staff who may need to relocate at short notice. VisaHQ’s German portal (https://www.visahq.com/germany/) can streamline those checks, offering real-time eligibility tools and expedited processing options for Indian, Gulf and EU travel documents—services that become invaluable if evacuation windows narrow suddenly.
German employers with expatriate staff in the region should review safe-haven contracts and confirm that local evacuation providers can secure over-land routes into India or the Gulf should airports close. Under Germany’s Duty-of-Care jurisprudence (BGB § 618), failure to plan could expose companies to liability claims if employees are caught in a deteriorating security environment. Immigration practitioners also note that any sustained conflict could spur new asylum applications. Berlin’s interior ministry has already floated a contingency quota of 5 000 humanitarian visas, though that would require Bundesrat endorsement and could reignite domestic debates over reception capacity.
