Doha: Qatar has formally asked the United States to relocate more than 1100 Afghan refugees currently staying in Doha by 29 September 2026. Qatar says the arrangement was always temporary and cannot continue indefinitely.
According to diplomatic documents from the US State Department, both countries recently agreed to extend the transit arrangement until 2026. However, Qatar has now made it clear that this will be the final extension. After this deadline, the responsibility for relocation will fully shift to the United States.
These Afghan refugees were evacuated in August 2021 after the Taliban took control of Kabul. Since then, they have been waiting for resettlement in the United States or other Western countries.
In addition, Qatar has urged the US to quickly decide the legal status of the people staying in the camp. It has also requested that no further Afghan evacuees be sent to Qatar in the future.
The refugees are currently living in Camp Al Sailiya near Doha. The camp has served as a transit hub since 2021, where thousands of Afghans were processed for relocation abroad. Initially, the agreement was expected to end in 2023, but it was extended several times on humanitarian grounds.
Finally, Qatar’s latest position has increased pressure on the US administration to complete long term resettlement arrangements within the next 18 months.
