Taliban Government Announces Return for Afghans
The Taliban government announced on Saturday that Afghans fleeing to Qatar due to fear of reprisals from Taliban authorities may return home with full confidence. The Trump administration had set a March 31 deadline to close a camp in Qatar where over 1,100 Afghans were staying at a former US base.
Afghan nationals who have been awaiting US visas in Qatar have been asked to choose between repatriation or resettlement in another country. A statement from the Taliban’s foreign ministry said that Afghanistan is their shared homeland and invites all concerned to return with confidence and peace of mind.
The Trump administration has dismantled the broader refugee resettlement program, ordering a halt to processing for Afghans after an incident where one Afghan, who worked with US intelligence, shot two National Guard troops in Washington last year. Over 190,000 Afghans have found new homes in the United States under former President Joe Biden’s administration.
A US State Department spokesperson said that moving Afghans from the Qatar camp to a third country is a positive resolution that provides safety for these remaining people and upholds the safety of American citizens. The Taliban government’s foreign ministry spokesman also stated that there are no security threats in Afghanistan.