Shawn Vandiver, head of the Afghan Evacuation (Afghan Evac) organization, has stated that the draft of the United States’ National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2027 prohibits the return of former U.S. partners from Qatar to Afghanistan.
In a post published on Thursday, 28 Jowza, he said that a total of three provisions related to Afghanistan have been included in the versions prepared by both the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives.
According to him, two provisions appear in the Senate draft and one in the House draft, all related to Afghanistan.
Vandiver explained that one of the Senate proposals prohibits the transfer of residents of the Al Udeid (Al Silieh) camp to Afghanistan or other high-risk countries. This measure is intended to prevent the relocation of individuals who could face security threats upon return.
Another provision in the bill proposes the creation of a new program to preserve and maintain records of Afghan partners who worked with the U.S. military in Afghanistan. Afghan Evac stated that such a mechanism could have been established years ago and, if approved, would also be applicable to future U.S. missions and wars.
The U.S. House of Representatives has also included a provision related to Afghanistan in its draft NDAA for the new fiscal year. According to the proposal, the mandate and reporting deadline of the “Afghanistan War Commission” would be extended.
Afghan Evac has stated that if the draft is approved by both chambers of Congress the Senate and the House of Representatives it will be submitted for final presidential approval in December.
However, the organization has expressed concern over the situation of residents of the Al Silieh camp, warning that the legislative process may conclude after the camp has already been closed.
Vandiver said that the Al Silieh camp in Qatar, which currently hosts around 1,100 former U.S. allies, is scheduled to close by 30 September 2026.
These remarks come amid recent reports suggesting the possible return of some Afghan asylum seekers from the Al Silieh camp to Afghanistan. Other reports also indicate that individuals who may face risk upon return could be relocated to third countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
