The Taliban government of Afghanistan has said that its citizens stranded in Qatar hoping to reach the United States can safely return home.  About 1,100 Afghan citizens who helped the United States during the war and their families are currently taking refuge at the US military camp in Doha, Qatar.  

This includes those who helped the United States in the past as interpreters, those who assisted in US special operations, and their families. Similarly, 150 Afghan family members of US soldiers are also here. 

The Afghan Foreign Ministry has stated that there will be no problem in returning home to those citizens. Earlier, the Joe Biden administration had launched a resettlement program in the United States for Afghan families who helped the United States during the war. This decision was made keeping in mind the safety of its allies after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021. 

Under this program, the allies were first rescued and taken to a safe place and then resettled in the United States. 

The Biden administration has brought a large number of Afghans to the US under this program in various phases. However, when Donald Trump became president, he signed an executive order to stop this program. This has caused problems for Afghans living in countries like Qatar, who are waiting for their turn to go to the US. 

Almost a year later, the Trump administration is preparing to arrange for Afghans to be resettled in a third country. However, Afghans who are hoping to go to the US are unhappy with this decision. 

The Afghan Evacuation Campaign, an organization advocating for the resettlement campaign, had made public on Wednesday that the US is in discussions to send Afghans living in Qatar to  Congo. On Saturday, Afghan Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi said that its citizens can return home. 

The US State Department has said that it is working on the option of voluntary resettlement to a third country. However, the names of the countries being discussed have not been made public. 

According to the Afghan Evacuation Campaign, one of the options offered to the refugees was to return to Afghanistan. “They are in fear of being killed by the Taliban,” the statement issued by the Evac said. 

However, the Afghan Foreign Ministry has stated that the homeland is common to all. “Afghanistan is the common homeland of all Afghans. Its doors are open to all. They can return with full confidence and peace of mind,” the statement issued by the Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson  Balkhi said, “Those who wish to travel to another country can go at an appropriate time through legal and dignified means. The Afghan Foreign Ministry is ready to contact all countries for that.” 

Balkhi said there is no danger in Afghanistan. “There is no security threat here, and no one has been forced to leave the country for security reasons.”

The Afghan Evac has issued a statement on behalf of those staying at the S. Saylia military camp. “Many of us are not healthy  . There is uncertainty and a difficult situation. There is deep depression,” the statement said, quoting Afghans in the camp. The statement said that the mental health of some Afghans has deteriorated due to the difficult  conditions. 

‘US officials have not informed the Afghans in the camp about the ongoing discussions on the relocation process. They said they learned about it from the media. The uncertainty is seriously affecting them,’ the statement said. 

The statement quoted people in the camp as saying, ‘We do not want to go to the Democratic Republic of Congo. This country itself is in a civil war. We have endured war for a long time. We cannot take our children to another war.’