Turkey expels hundreds of Afghan immigrants

Turkey said it will expel hundreds of Afghans in Afghanistan, as thousands of them allegedly entered the country illegally in recent weeks.

Turkish media said 227 Afghan immigrants were flown from the town of Erzurum to Kabul on Sunday.

According to similar sources, more than 400 will be expelled in the coming days.

Migrating officials in Erzurum said authorities plan to expel the 3,000 Afghan migrants currently located in this city.

In Kabul, a spokesman for the Ministry of Refugees said they are returning home by their own will.

“They have wanted to exploit Turkey as a transit route in other countries, but when they failed, they have decided to return”, Isuddin Jurat said.

During a visit to Kabul, Turkey's prime minister, Binali Yildirim, said Sunday that Ankara is grateful for Afghanistan's co-operation over the issue.