Afghans Refugees Fleeing Taliban Cross Border Into Turkey From Iran

Fearing a new refugee crisis, Turkey is reinforcing its border with Iran to stop a potential influx of Afghans fleeing following the Taliban’s seizure of power in Afghanistan. Irregular arrivals are already up as Afghans who fled weeks and months ago show up at the rugged border area after a long trek across Iran. A group of Afghans encountered by The Associated Press near the border said they had deserted the Afghan military and fled the country as the Taliban offensive accelerated. “We came out of necessity. The Taliban have attacked our country and now they control it. We hope that the Turkish government (accept us),“ one of them, Feroz Seddiqi, told the AP. He explained that they had scaled a mountain to reach Turkey, enduring thirst and hunger. Nesar Ahmad, another member of the group, said they also experienced looting by thieves who took away their money and mobile phones. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government had brushed off warnings and criticism from opposition parties about an i