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Rubio says at least five countries are open to taking in stranded Afghans

AL-MONITOR
Jun 2, 2026
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio testifies before a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on President Donald Trump's FY2027 budget request for the Department of State, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 2, 2026. REUTERS/Evan Vucci
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio testifies before a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on President Donald Trump's FY2027 budget request for the Department of State, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 2, 2026. REUTERS/Evan Vucci — Evan Vucci

WASHINGTON, June 2 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers on Tuesday that the Trump administration does not want to force Afghans currently stranded in Qatar to return to Afghanistan and has spoken with at least five countries who are open to receiving them.

More than 1,100 people have been held at the former U.S. Army base Camp As Sayliyah (CAS) since at least early last year, when Republican President Donald Trump's administrationhalted resettlement for Afghans who feared retribution from Taliban authorities for their links to the U.S. military.

(Reporting by Simon Lewis, Patricia Zengerle and Ryan Jones, Editing by Franklin Paul)