From Allies to Abandonment: The Fate of Afghan Refugees in Qatar Exposes the Reality of Colonial Politics
(Translated)

News:

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has confirmed that the Trump administration does not intend to admit the 1,100 Afghans currently stranded in Qatar who had worked with the U.S. military, intelligence services, and other American institutions during the two-decade occupation of Afghanistan. Rubio stated that Washington is engaged in discussions with several countries regarding their resettlement, citing security restrictions that currently prevent their entry into the United States. Earlier, the organization, Afghan Evac, reported that the U.S. was considering relocating some of these Afghans to the Democratic Republic of Congo. The situation became more complicated following a shooting incident involving an Afghan refugee in Washington late last year, after which President Trump imposed entry restrictions on nationals from twelve countries, including Afghanistan.

Comment:

The plight of these Afghans in Qatar is far more than an immigration issue or a bureaucratic dispute over visas. It exposes the true nature of the colonial capitalist order, which treats people not as human beings with dignity and rights, but as instruments to advance political, military, and security objectives. During the occupation of Afghanistan, these individuals were recruited, praised, and relied upon to serve American interests. Today, however, they are no longer judged according to loyalty, service, or promises made to them. Instead, their future is being determined by shifting political calculations and security concerns.

This reality reveals a fundamental characteristic of colonial powers: their relationships with individuals and nations are governed not by principles, values, or moral commitments, but by interests and expediency. Those once celebrated as “allies” and “partners” now find themselves trapped in uncertainty, facing the prospect of relocation to third countries—or even impoverished and unstable destinations such as the Democratic Republic of Congo. In a system driven by power and profit, human beings retain value only as long as they remain useful.

The crisis facing these Afghans extends beyond geographical displacement. Many have spent years in uncertainty, separated from stability and belonging, while enduring cultural pressures, identity struggles, and growing anxiety about their future. Their story is therefore not merely one of displacement; it is also the story of a failed assumption—that the dignity, security, and future of Muslims can be entrusted to the promises of colonial powers.

From an Islamic intellectual and political perspective, this episode once again demonstrates that the honour, security, and identity of Muslims cannot be secured through visas, foreign sponsorship, or the patronage of powerful states. Allah (swt) says:

[الَّذِينَ يَتَّخِذُونَ الْكَافِرِينَ أَوْلِيَاء مِن دُونِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَيَبْتَغُونَ عِندَهُمُ الْعِزَّةَ فَإِنَّ العِزَّةَ لِلّهِ جَمِيعًا]

“Those who take the disbelievers as allies instead of the believers—do they seek honour through them? Indeed, all honour belongs entirely to Allah” [Surah An-Nisa, 4:139].

The tragedy of the Afghan refugees in Qatar is therefore a warning to the wider Ummah. As long as the affairs of Muslims remain tied to the policies of Washington, London, and other colonial capitals, they will continue to be vulnerable to political bargaining and shifting strategic interests. The current international order has repeatedly shown that it protects interests before it protects people.

True dignity, security, and stability for Muslims can only be guaranteed through a political order founded upon the interests of the Ummah and the implementation and conveyance of divine guidance. In the absence of the Khilafah Rashidah (Rightly Guided Caliphate) upon the method of Prophethood, the sons and daughters of the Ummah remain exposed to the calculations of global powers and their client regimes. For this reason, the path to genuine security and honour does not lie in dependence upon foreign powers, but in restoring the intellectual, political, and geographical unity of the Ummah under a leadership that safeguards its interests and protects its people.

«إِنَّمَا الإِمَامُ جُنَّةٌ يُقَاتَلُ مِنْ وَرَائِهِ وَيُتَّقَى بِهِ» “The Imam (Khalifah) is but a shield; the people fight behind him and are protected through him” [Sahih al-Bukhari & Sahih Muslim].

Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Yousof Arsalan
Member of the Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir in Wilayah Afghanistan