Turkey’s Foreign Ministry on Sunday afternoon rejected reports that the United Kingdom plans to establish offshore asylum centers for Afghan refugees in third countries, including Turkey.
In a statement, the ministry said reports on the establishment of these centers do not reflect the truth, noting that so far no formal request has been submitted from any country.
“It is not possible for us to accept it even if a request is made in this regard,” the ministry said.
British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace wrote an article in Mail on Sunday saying: “A number of ‘processing centers’ will be set up in Afghanistan’s neighboring countries for refugees who can escape. their right to come to the UK, will be flown to Britain “.
Although the country’s name was not mentioned in the article, The Mail on Sunday referred to Turkey and Pakistan. Some media also referred to the article in question.
Turkish officials have told their Western counterparts that the country cannot handle another wave of migration as it already hosts more than 4 million Syrian refugees.
On Sunday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told European Council President Charles Michel that Turkey cannot assume the responsibilities of European countries with regard to Afghan refugees.
Turkey has been a key transit point for asylum seekers trying to cross into Europe to start new lives, especially those fleeing war and persecution.
Concerns have been raised about a possible rise in refugees from Afghanistan due to the U.S. withdrawal from the country after two decades and the next wave of Taliban attacks.
Turkey has deployed additional reinforcements on its eastern border with Iran and new measures are expected to be implemented. Border security will be supported by technological systems.
Turkey has made it clear that it will not bear the brunt of the migration crises experienced as a result of the decisions of third countries.
Turkey hosts about 4 million refugees, more than any other country in the world. After the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011, Turkey adopted an “open door policy” for people fleeing the conflict, granting them “temporary protection” status.
Afghans are believed to be the second largest refugee community in Turkey after the Syrians. Many of the migrants arriving through Iran head to Istanbul to find work or move to another coastal city from where they can embark for Europe.