Afghanistan Peace CampaignBy Fidel Rahmati
Khaama Press
A proposed US defense spending bill for 2027 includes provisions that could prevent the transfer of former Afghan allies from Qatar to Afghanistan or other countries deemed unsafe.
A draft US defense authorization bill for fiscal year 2027 contains measures aimed at protecting Afghan nationals who previously worked with American forces and are currently awaiting resettlement in Qatar, according to advocacy group AfghanEvac.
AfghanEvac President Shawn VanDiver said the preliminary versions of the National Defense Authorization Act being considered by the US Senate and House of Representatives include provisions related to former Afghan partners of the United States.
According to VanDiver, one provision would restrict the transfer of Afghans housed at a processing center in Qatar to Afghanistan or other countries considered high-risk from a security perspective. Another section proposes the preservation and protection of records related to Afghans who assisted US military operations.
The draft legislation also includes a proposal to extend the mandate of the Afghanistan War Commission, allowing additional time for completion of its final report on the two-decade US involvement in Afghanistan.
AfghanEvac warned, however, that uncertainty remains over implementation timelines. The organization noted that the processing facility in Qatar, which hosts more than 1,000 Afghans who previously worked alongside US forces, is expected to close by September 2026.
The issue comes as thousands of Afghans linked to Western governments and military missions continue to await relocation to the United States and other countries under special immigration and humanitarian programs. Advocacy groups have repeatedly warned that delays in processing applications leave many former interpreters, contractors and support staff in prolonged uncertainty.
The debate also coincides with a worsening humanitarian situation inside Afghanistan. International aid agencies report that millions of Afghans remain dependent on humanitarian assistance amid economic hardship, restrictions affecting women and girls, food insecurity and limited access to essential services.
Humanitarian organizations have further expressed concern over the growing influx of Afghan returnees from neighboring Iran and Pakistan. Since late 2023, millions of Afghans have returned or been deported from the two countries, placing additional pressure on already strained communities, public services and aid resources across Afghanistan.
Many Afghan refugees also remain in Pakistan while awaiting resettlement decisions, while others are being processed through temporary facilities in Qatar. Rights groups have urged Western governments to accelerate relocation programs, arguing that former Afghan allies face significant security risks if returned to Afghanistan before their cases are resolved.
If approved by Congress and signed by the US president, the proposed legislation would become law and could provide additional safeguards for vulnerable Afghans still seeking permanent resettlement.