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Jandarma officers chase a man who fled from a smuggler's car that was transporting Afghan migrants during a roadside raid on July 06, 2021 in Van, Turkey. A growing number of Afghan refugees are fleeing into Turkey as the Taliban escalates its military offensive and the United States nears completion of its troop withdrawal after a two-decade war. Since US President Joe Biden announced the August 31 pull-out deadline, the Taliban advance has been swift, with reports claiming they have taken control of more than half of the country's 400 districts. Over the past months, Turkey has seen a steady rise in Afghan migrants, most entering the country illegally via a centuries-old smuggling route through Iran. The numbers may rise further after the US announced an expansion of its refugee program for those who worked for the US but did not qualify for Special Immigrant Visas. These Afghans, who are not eligible for evacuation flights, would have to leave Afghanistan on their own before receiving US assistance. Turkey is a likely destination. The Afghans migrating to Turkey via Iran travel largely on foot, navigating the treacherous mountain range that makes up the Iran-Turkey border. Assisted by an organized network of smugglers, migrants pay upwards of $1000 USD per person for a journey through safe houses, across Van Lake, around land-border checkpoints, and onward to cities like Ankara and Istanbul. Migrants often report severe beatings by Iranian border guards and poor safe house conditions, while the mountain crossing and boat trips have claimed many lives. Turkey�s law enforcement agencies have stepped up efforts to break up the smuggling networks, in a bid to slow rising numbers and protect migrant lives. Turkey already hosts more than 5.5 million asylum seekers, the world's largest refugee population. As the security condition in Afghanistan continues to deteriorate, fears of a new refugee crisis loom. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)
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