WASHINGTON: The Trump administration is reportedly preparing to deport Afghan refugees from Qatar to Pakistan as early as Monday, raising concerns over their safety and the possibility of their eventual return to Afghanistan under Taliban rule.
According to NBC News, the proposed deportation flight has not been officially announced. However, human rights advocates and families of Afghan detainees believe the transfer could take place within days.
The reported move concerns Afghan refugees currently staying at Camp As Sayliyah in Qatar. Their future has remained uncertain as the US administration repeatedly postponed plans to close the facility and relocate its residents.
The US State Department initially set March 31 as the deadline for removing all refugees from the camp. The deadline was later extended to September 30. In September, the Trump administration further delayed the facility’s closure by nine months, the report said.
Earlier this year, US officials also considered transferring Afghan refugees to the Democratic Republic of Congo. The proposal raised additional concerns after an Ebola outbreak was reported in the African country.
The latest reported plan to send refugees to Pakistan has sparked fresh alarm among human rights organisations and families. They fear that refugees could face further displacement or eventually be forced back to Afghanistan, where the Taliban remain in power.
AfghanEvac, an organisation advocating for Afghan refugees, strongly criticised the reported deportation arrangements in a statement issued on Friday.
The group accused the Trump administration of preparing the flights while public attention remained focused on the upcoming US midterm elections.
It also questioned the government’s decision to withhold information about the proposed flights and their destinations, arguing that the lack of transparency raised serious concerns about the treatment of those being deported.
AfghanEvac said the authorities were avoiding public scrutiny because of concerns over what could happen to the refugees after their arrival.
The reported deportation plan comes after months of uncertainty for Afghan refugees at the Qatar facility, many of whom have been awaiting decisions on their resettlement and future status.
However, neither the US government nor relevant authorities have officially confirmed the proposed flight, its destination or the reported Monday departure.
