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Turkey pushing tens of thousands of Afghans back at Iran border: HRW

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Turkey is routinely pushing tens of thousands of Afghans back at its land border with Iran or deporting them directly to Afghanistan with little or no examination of their claims for international protection, Human Rights Watch said in a report released on Friday.

The 73-page report, “‘No One Asked Me Why I Left Afghanistan,’” says that Turkey has stepped up pushbacks and deportations to Afghanistan since August 2021. Human Rights Watch also found that Afghans inside Turkey are being blocked from registering for international protection and that Afghans facing imminent deportation are often given no opportunity to make refugee claims. As of October 20, 2022, the Presidency of Migration Management in Turkey’s Interior Ministry reported 238,448 “irregular migrants whose entrance to our country has been prevented” in 2022, most of them Afghans. Turkey reported deporting 44,768 Afghans by air to Kabul in the first eight months of 2022, a 150 percent increase over the first eight months of 2021.

“Although Turkey has rightly earned international acclaim and support for hosting the largest number of refugees of any country in the world, it is simultaneously pushing many Afghans back at its borders or deporting them to Afghanistan with little or no examination of their claims for international protection,” said Bill Frelick, refugee and migrant rights director at Human Rights Watch. “Turkey should immediately halt these routine pushbacks of Afghans from its borders and give all Afghans facing removal the opportunity to make refugee claims.”

Turkey hosts the largest number of refugees of any country in the world, an estimated 3.9 million people, 3.6 million Syrians with temporary protection and 320,000 others, mostly Afghans.

Human Rights Watch interviewed 68 Afghans, 38 of whom described 114 pushback incidents between January 2021 and April 2022. All the men and boys traveling without female family members personally experienced or witnessed Turkish authorities beating or otherwise abusing them and others who were with them. Many also said that Turkish border authorities shot in their direction, sometimes at them, as they approached or attempted to cross the border.

Human Rights Watch found that many Afghans facing imminent deportation are given no opportunity to make refugee claims or otherwise challenge their deportation, and their signatures or fingerprints on voluntary return forms are often forced, obtained through deception, or forged.

Because Turkish authorities block access to asylum, forcibly return people who appear to be refugees, and commit other abuses against migrants and people seeking international protection, Turkey does not meet the criteria of a safe third country provided by EU law under Article 38 of the Asylum Procedures Directive, Human Rights Watch said.

“No EU member state should deny access to asylum for Afghans or other nationals under the pretense that Turkey would be a safe third country for them,” Frelick said. “EU’s migration management support to Turkey should be made conditional on demonstrated assurances that such support doesn’t contribute to denying people their right to seek asylum or to returning them to places where their lives or freedom would be threatened.”

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Turkmenistan aids evacuation from Iran amid Middle East tensions

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Turkmenistan has opened its borders to assist in the evacuation of foreign nationals from Iran due to the escalating situation in the Middle East.

So far, around 120 people—including citizens of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Romania, and other countries—have entered Turkmenistan through official checkpoints.

The evacuees are being provided with transportation, meals, basic necessities, and accommodation at Ashgabat’s Sport Hotel.

Turkmen authorities are coordinating closely with foreign embassies and international organizations, reinforcing the country’s commitment to humanitarian values and regional cooperation.

Amid rising tensions in the Middle East, multiple countries have meanwhile issued urgent travel advisories, calling on their citizens to leave Iran immediately and avoid non-essential travel to the region.

Governments including the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, and several Central Asian states have cited growing security risks due to the volatile situation and the possibility of further military escalation.

Some embassies have already begun scaling down operations or temporarily relocating staff to neighboring countries. Emergency hotlines and evacuation assistance are being offered for citizens still in Iran.

This wave of advisories follows recent airstrikes, retaliatory threats, and increased instability in Iran’s neighboring regions, prompting fears of broader conflict. Many countries are working with allies and international partners to coordinate evacuation plans and ensure the safety of their nationals.

India takes action

India has launched a precautionary evacuation operation to bring home its citizens from Iran, in response to growing security concerns in the region.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is working closely with embassies and local authorities to ensure the safety of Indian nationals.

According to Indian officials, around 100 Indian students from the Iranian city of Urmia have already reached the Iran–Armenia border. The Indian Embassy is arranging their onward travel, with plans to fly them out of the region in coordination with neighboring countries.

India has also advised its citizens in Tehran and other Iranian cities to relocate to safer areas. The MEA has activated a 24×7 helpline and established a command center to coordinate the evacuation and provide support.

Approximately 10,000 Indians are currently living in Iran, including an estimated 6,000 students. The government has emphasized that it is closely monitoring the situation and will continue evacuation efforts as needed.

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IEA delegation travels to Beijing to attend 9th China-South Asia Expo

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Deputy Prime Minister for Administrative Affairs Abdul Salam Hanafi, leading a delegation, left Kabul on Tuesday for China to participate in the 9th China-South Asia Expo, Arg said in a statement.

The statement added that the high-level delegation of the Islamic Emirate includes Nooruddin Azizi, Acting Minister of Industry and Commerce, and Mohammad Naeem Wardak, Deputy Minister of Finance and Administration at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The statement stated that during this visit, in addition to attending and delivering a speech at the 9th China-South Asia Expo, Hanafi is expected to meet with several Chinese officials to discuss expanding relations between the two countries in various fields.

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Turkish ambassador invites acting Afghan commerce minister to attend ECO summit

The ECO Summit is scheduled to take place in Turkey later this month.

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The Turkish Ambassador to Kabul has invited Nooruddin Azizi, the Acting Minister of Industry and Commerce of Afghanistan, to attend the upcoming Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Summit and deliver a speech on behalf of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the ECO Summit is scheduled to take place in Turkey later this month.

During a recent meeting between Ambassador Cenk Ünal and Minister Azizi in Kabul, both sides discussed strengthening and expanding economic relations between Afghanistan and Turkey.

The discussions also covered a range of economic and trade-related topics, including the organization of a regional exhibition at the Termez International Trade Center, the establishment of trade centers in both Kabul and Istanbul, and the creation of bilateral trade houses aimed at boosting cooperation and connectivity between Afghan and Turkish businesses.

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