Qatar urges US to relocate Afghan refugees from Doha

Qatar has reportedly asked the United States to relocate Afghan refugees currently residing in Doha to another location by September 29, 2026, stating that the hosting agreement was made on a temporary basis.

According to diplomatic documents issued by the U.S. State Department, both countries have agreed to extend the arrangement until 2026; however, Qatar has made it clear that the agreement cannot be permanent.

The arrangement relates to Afghan nationals who were evacuated from Afghanistan following the Taliban’s takeover of the country in 2021.

According to the report, these individuals are being housed at “Camp Al-Sayliyah” near Doha, where they are awaiting resettlement in the United States or other countries. More than 1,100 Afghan refugees are currently present at the facility.

The documents state that Qatar has requested the United States to determine the legal status of all individuals at the camp and has also asked that no additional Afghan refugees be sent to Qatar.

Camp Al-Sayliyah served as a key transit hub during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, where thousands of Afghan citizens were processed for relocation abroad.

The agreement was initially reached in 2023, later extended beyond 2024, and has now been further prolonged. Under the terms of the agreement, responsibility for relocation of refugees after the expiry of the deadline will lie with the United States.