30 September 2026
Washington — The United States government has extended operations at Camp As Sayliyah in Qatar for another nine months, giving more than 1,000 Afghans who worked with US forces during the war in Afghanistan, or who are family members of US military personnel, more time to remain at the facility.
According to a report published by the Associated Press (AP) on Tuesday, 29 September, the camp was due to close at the end of the US fiscal year. However, a US official said an agreement had been reached to extend its operations for nine months.
The official, who was not authorised to comment publicly on the matter, spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity. It remains unclear whether US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has signed the formal document for the decision or delegated that authority to one of his officials.
Afghans who worked with US forces
Around 1,039 Afghans are staying at the camp. Many worked as interpreters or in other roles with US forces between 2001 and 2021. Others are family members of US military personnel.
According to figures provided by #AfghanEvac, women and children make up more than 70 per cent of the camp’s residents.
These people have sought resettlement in the United States or other countries following the chaotic withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan in 2021 and the Taliban’s return to power.
Why will the camp remain open for another nine months?
In recent months, the US government said it was negotiating with several countries to relocate and resettle these people. However, no permanent solution for their relocation has yet been found.
The Associated Press previously reported that the US government had even considered resettling some of these people in third countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Responding to the extension of the camp’s operations, the US State Department said efforts were continuing to find a solution that would allow the remaining residents to start new lives outside Afghanistan while also addressing US security concerns.
Concerns about returning to Afghanistan
The extension of the camp’s operations means its residents will not face the risk of forced return to Afghanistan, at least in the short term. However, the Associated Press report indicates that many remain uncertain about their future.
Refugee advocates have warned that, without a resettlement option, returning to Afghanistan could be dangerous for some of these people, as their work with foreign forces could expose them to threats or reprisals from the Taliban. Meanwhile, many camp residents have little hope of being admitted to the United States.
Decline in Afghan refugee admissions to the United States
Donald Trump’s administration suspended the Afghan resettlement programme after the start of his second presidential term, as part of a series of new US policies on immigration and refugee admissions. According to information provided by #AfghanEvac and cited in the AP report, only five Afghans have entered the United States since October 2025. These changes have left thousands of people stranded in various countries after fleeing war and security threats and completing different stages of screening and assessment for resettlement in the United States. The Qatar camp is one such facility.
“A temporary solution is not enough”
Shawn VanDiver, a US Navy veteran and president of #AfghanEvac, described the extension of the camp’s operations as a positive step for its residents, but stressed that it should not replace a permanent solution. He said residents had long lived with uncertainty about their future, and the extension could provide greater security, at least for a while.
The US State Department said it would continue exploring options for the voluntary resettlement of camp residents in other countries during these nine months. It has not yet provided further details about potential destination countries or a timetable for relocating residents.
Source: Associated Press (AP), 30 September 2026
