“Turkey steps up security measures with additional border wall and patrols as Afghan refugees attempt to flee.”
As the Taliban’s rapid advance in Afghanistan continues, Turkey has strengthened its border defenses to prevent a potential influx of refugees seeking to escape to Europe. With nearly 4 million Syrian refugees already residing in the country, Turkey is preparing for the possibility of a new wave of migrants, many of whom would pass through Iran on their way to the Turkish border.
In response, Turkish authorities have been reinforcing the border between Turkey and Iran. The country has been constructing a 3-meter-high wall along parts of the border, and by the end of the year, plans are in place to extend this wall by an additional 64 kilometers. Alongside this, ditches, barbed wire, and round-the-clock security patrols are being implemented to create a formidable barrier.
Turkey’s eastern border province of Van, which faces the Iran frontier, is one of the primary areas where these heightened security measures are taking shape. Mehmet Emin Bilmez, the governor of Van, emphasized the country’s goal of preventing any large-scale migrant influx. “We want to show the whole world that our borders are unpassable,” Bilmez told Reuters.
These efforts come in the wake of growing concerns over the potential humanitarian crisis, as thousands of Afghans face an uncertain future under Taliban rule. Turkey is positioning itself as a key gatekeeper in Europe’s migration crisis, balancing the need to manage refugee arrivals while preventing a large surge of people fleeing Afghanistan.
Turkey’s stance is a significant development as countries across Europe and the Middle East are bracing for the consequences of the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan, with many fearing that the region could once again become a hotbed for refugee displacement.