US-Congo Relocation Talks Stall as Afghan War Allies Remain Stranded in Qatar

Afghanistan has urged its nationals who assisted US forces during the two-decade war and are currently stranded in Qatar to return home, even as uncertainty persists over stalled relocation plans to third countries.

In a statement, foreign ministry spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi said Afghanistan remains the “shared homeland of all Afghans” and assured returnees of safety and dignity. He said citizens could also travel abroad later through legal and dignified channels , insisting there are no security threats in the country.

The appeal comes as reports confirm ongoing US discussions with the Democratic Republic of Congo to potentially relocate around 1,100 Afghan evacuees , including interpreters, former special forces personnel, and families of US service members. More than 400 children are among them , according to advocacy groups.

The group has been staying at Camp As-Sayliyah, a former US military base in Doha , for over a year. The facility, once a transit hub for Afghan evacuation processing, is now reportedly being wound down, with earlier State Department plans indicating closure and relocation of remaining evacuees.

According to AfghanEvac , US authorities suspended Afghan resettlement pathways after policy changes in 2025, leaving vetted applicants in prolonged limbo. While Washington has discussed “voluntary resettlement” to third countries , no agreement has been finalized, and previous relocation options to other nations reportedly collapsed.

The evacuees strongly oppose relocation to Congo, citing ongoing conflict there, and also reject return to Afghanistan due to fear of Taliban reprisals for their wartime cooperation with US forces . They also report worsening mental health distress and uncertainty after years of displacement.

Advocacy groups say the stalemate reflects broader failures in post-war evacuation policy, leaving thousands of Afghan allies stranded without a clear resettlement pathway.