Afghanistan says stranded Afghan refugees in Qatar can safely return home
Foreign ministry statement comes amid reports US considering sending 1,100 Afghan refugees who helped US war effort to Democratic Republic of Congo
Quick Look
- Afghanistan's foreign ministry says Afghans who assisted the US war effort and have been stranded at a US base in Qatar can safely return home, amid reports the Trump administration is discussing sending them to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
- Around 1,100 Afghan refugees who worked alongside US forces during the 20-year war have been in limbo at Camp As-Sayliyah in Doha for the past year.
- The State Department says it's working to identify third-country resettlement options on a voluntary basis.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Following the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021 and the Taliban's takeover, thousands of Afghans who worked with American forces fled the country. Many were evacuated to third countries including Qatar, where they have remained in limbo at US military facilities while awaiting resettlement.
Afghanistan's foreign ministry says Afghans who helped America's war effort and have been stuck in Qatar in the hope of reaching the United States can safely return to Afghanistan. The statement on Saturday by foreign ministry spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi comes after reports emerged that the Trump administration is in discussions to potentially send 1,100 Afghans who assisted the US during its war in Afghanistan, and relatives of US service members, to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). An organisation called #AfghanEvac that supports Afghan resettlement efforts said on Wednesday that US officials had informed the group of discussions between the US and the DRC about taking the Afghan refugees who have been in limbo at Camp As-Sayliyah, a US base in Doha, for the past year. The State Department said it is working to identify options to "voluntarily" resettle the refugees in a third country, but did not confirm which nations were being discussed. An alternative provided to the refugees was to return to Afghanistan, #AfghanEvac said, where they fear reprisals or even death at the hands of the Taliban for working alongside the US during the two-decade war.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
US will continue negotiating with DRC and other countries for third-country resettlement options
Very likely · Within weeks
Some refugees may choose to return to Afghanistan despite risks
Likely · Within months
Open Questions
- Will the DRC actually accept the Afghan refugees?
- What specific assurances has Afghanistan provided about safety for returnees?
- Will resettlement to DRC be truly voluntary?
- What happens to refugees who refuse both options?
