KABUL (Pajhwok): The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) on Saturday said Afghans currently residing in Qatar can return home safely, stressing that there is no security threat to citizens in Afghanistan.
The statement comes amid reports that some Afghans in Qatar may be relocated to the Democratic Republic of the Congo or return to Afghanistan.
MoFA said a number of Afghans in Qatar, who had been waiting for US visas, were reportedly asked to choose between returning home or moving to a third country.
It said the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) once again assured all citizens that Afghanistan is the common home of all Afghans and invited those in similar situations to return, adding that the country’s doors remain open.
The ministry added that those wishing to travel abroad may do so through legal and dignified channels at an appropriate time.
It said the IEA is ready to cooperate with all countries within the framework of bilateral consular relations and an organised mechanism to protect the rights of Afghan citizens.
The statement reiterated that there is currently no security threat in Afghanistan and that no one is compelled to leave the country due to security concerns.
Last week, The New York Times reported that Afghans in Qatar would be given a choice between relocation to the Democratic Republic of the Congo or returning to Afghanistan. It added that US President Donald Trump was in talks to transfer as many as 1,100 of them to Congo.
kk/sa
