'The West will pray for Erdoğan's reelection' as new refugee crisis looms, says CHP leader

Turkey has started building a concrete wall on its border with Iran to curb irregular migration. (Photo: AA)

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As the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan causes a new migration wave, western countries will likely try to strike a new deal with Turkey, main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has predicted.

"Anticipating the risk of migration, the West will try to sit down with [President] Erdoğan. They will even pray for Erdoğan's election win," Kılıçdaroğlu wrote on Twitter yesterday (August 15). "We won't allow this. It's a must to get the public's approval before negotiations. [Erdoğan] should come to the ballot box to get the approval."

Both the US and European countries have suggested that Turkey may host refugees fleeing the Taliban. For more than a month, hundreds of Afghan refugees have been reportedly crossing into Turkey from Iran.

A couple of weeks ago, Austria and Belgium recommended extending the EU-Turkey deal for Syrian refugees to include Afghans as well. Turkey receives financial aid from the EU in exchange for keeping the refugees according to the deal that has been in place since 2016.

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

With some 3.6 million Syrian refugees and over 100,000 Afghans, Turkey is the largest refugee host in the world.

The CHP leader also criticized the agreement between Ankara and Washington for Turkey to keep running the Kabul airport. "We won't sacrifice our soldiers in places where others run away without looking back."

"Personal promises given on non-official tables are worthless. I'm calling out to the government. Immediately withdraw our soldiers and police from Afghanistan," he wrote.

Turkey and the US have been in talks for about two months about the Kabul airport plan. The Taliban, which took over the capital city yesterday, has opposed the plan.

Turkey has already been running the Kabul airport for six years as part of a NATO mission.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan indicated last week that he would seek good relations with the Taliban.

CLICK - Erdoğan says he may host Taliban leader

CLICK - Erdoğan says Taliban can comfortably negotiate with Turkey as 'We have nothing against their beliefs'

(RT/VK)