RASC News Agency: According to a report by Agence France-Presse, the United States is considering a plan that would force a number of former Afghanistani allies currently stranded in Qatar to choose between two difficult options: relocation to the Democratic Republic of the Congo or return to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, a system widely criticized by international institutions for its human rights record.
The report states that the administration of Donald Trump, which has prioritized strict immigration policies, set a deadline of March 31 to close a camp at a former U.S. base in Qatar. More than 1,100 Afghanistani nationals had been housed there, most awaiting processing for resettlement in the United States a process considered critical given the risks they face if returned to Afghanistan, especially those who worked with U.S. forces.
According to Shawn VanDiver, a U.S. military veteran and head of an organization supporting evacuees, the government is considering offering relocation to Congo as an option. He strongly criticized the proposal, stating:
“Transferring vetted wartime allies over 400 of whom are children from U.S. oversight to a country facing its own crisis and instability is unjustifiable.”
He warned that such a plan could effectively pressure these individuals into returning to Afghanistan under Taliban rule a move that could expose them to serious security risks and potential retaliation.
Meanwhile, the United States Department of State has not confirmed Congo as the final destination but said that “voluntary resettlement” in a third country is under consideration. A spokesperson described relocation to a third country as a potentially “positive solution” for ensuring safety and enabling a new life outside Afghanistan.
At the same time, Tim Kaine, a Democratic senator, described the plan as “illogical,” emphasizing:
“We promised these Afghanistani individuals that after working with us, their safety would be guaranteed. Upholding that commitment is not only a moral obligation but essential for America’s credibility and future national security interests.”
He warned that failing to honor such commitments could seriously undermine trust among future allies.
According to the report, more than 190,000 Afghanistani individuals have been resettled in the United States since the collapse of the previous government and the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. However, recent policies under the Trump administration including a broad suspension of refugee resettlement programs have sharply restricted admissions.
This shift reportedly followed an incident in which an Afghanistani citizen (identified as Pashtun), who had previously worked with U.S. intelligence, opened fire on National Guard forces in Washington.
Analysts say these developments reflect a deeper tension between the United States’ moral obligations to its former allies and its increasingly security-driven immigration policies a dilemma made even more complex by the humanitarian and political realities under Taliban rule.
