Turkey Deploys Soldiers to Iran Border to Stop Possible Afghan Migrant Surge
Turkey is deploying soldiers to its border with Iran to stop a potential surge of Afghan migrants fleeing from the Taliban, the Associated Press reported.
Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said that in addition to the reinforcement of troops at the border, a wall under construction is nearing completion. Turkey has already taken in around 4 million migrants, with most Syrian refugees who fled their country's civil war.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government had brushed off any warnings or criticism from opposition parties about an influx of migrants from Afghanistan. Anti-migration sentiment in Turkey is already high as the country struggles with a rough economy and high unemployment that have been made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Erdogan admitted this week that Turkey is facing a new refugee surge, and said his government will work with Pakistan to try to bring stability to Afghanistan.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/turkey-deploys-soldiers-to-iran-border-to-stop-possible-afghan-migrant-surge/ar-AANsHKH