Austria's PM says Turkey is a better place for Afghan refugees than Europe

Afghan refugees in Germany in 2015 (Photo: AA)

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People fleeing the escalated conflict in Afghanistan should not go to Europe but stay in Turkey, Austria's PM Sebastian Kurz has said.

"With all due respect, if people are forced to flee, I think neighboring states like Turkey or other safe parts of Afghanistan are definitely a better place than Austria, Germany or Sweden," Kurz told Germany's daily BILD in an interview published yesterday (July 25).

Over the past month, refugees from Afghanistan have been crossing into Turkey through Iran as the Taliban expands the areas under its control. Turkey already hosts hundreds of thousands of Afghan refugees, according to UNHRC.

The new refugee wave coincides with Turkey's agreement with the US to keep running Afghanistan's Kabul airport following the withdrawal of NATO forces.

CLICK - People fleeing escalated conflict in Afghanistan heading to Turkey

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Kurz expressed concerns that the situation in the country may get worse as all foreign troops led by the US are set to pull out.

Europe should take action to prevent a scenario similar to the 2015 refugee influx, Kurz said, noting that he was pleased that the migration policies of Germany and Europe have changed since then.

In March 2016, Turkey agreed with the EU to keep more than three and a half million Syrian refugees in the country in return for financial support from Brussels. The agreement has been in place since then. (PT/VK)