US lawmakers raised concerns during a House subcommittee hearing about the fate of Afghan allies awaiting relocation. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Paul Kapur confirmed plans to close a processing facility housing over 1,000 Afghans by the end of March. The State Department aims to relocate these Afghans to third countries to avoid keeping them indefinitely at the facility.
Lawmakers questioned the State Department’s offer of payments for voluntary departure of Afghan allies. Democratic Ranking Member Sydney Kamlager-Dove expressed worries about the situation, calling it a “living nightmare” for those awaiting resettlement. Kapur clarified that the department was not forcibly repatriating Afghans to Afghanistan.
The hearing also addressed the oversight of the relocation process, with Congress passing a law in 2024 requiring the appointment of a coordinator for Afghan relocation efforts. Kapur stated that he held the responsibility structurally under the Office of Afghan Affairs. Lawmakers emphasized the need for greater transparency and regular briefings on the administration’s handling of Afghan allies.
Subcommittee Chair Bill Huizenga sought updates on the broader Afghanistan policy review, which Kapur described as an ongoing interagency process. The discussion highlighted ongoing tensions in Washington over the aftermath of the 2021 withdrawal and the treatment of Afghans who collaborated with US forces. Concerns were also raised about women’s and girls’ educational access in Afghanistan, with Kapur affirming US support for equal education opportunities.
