Muslim Brotherhood has had a long-standing relationship with the Taliban since the late 1990s. They provided fighters and financial and political support to the Taliban.
After the upheaval in Afghanistan, Turkish Islamists of various stripes hailed the Taliban’s takeover, raising complex questions over the future of Salafi-jihadi movements in Turkey.
With the help of Muslim Brotherhood, extremists and terrorists may disguise themselves as refugees in order to move from Afghanistan to Libya to obstruct the holding of December’s crucial elections to unify the divided nation.
Since the mid-August takeover of Kabul by the Taliban, thousands of people have rushed to leave Afghanistan. But as several European countries close doors to Afghan refugees, Turkey is transferring them to Libya to join Syrian mercenaries.
Now Turkey is home to anywhere between 200,000 and 600,000 Afghans, most of whom have arrived in the past decade, fleeing violence and poverty. But as the Taliban captures more of Afghanistan following America’s withdrawal, many more are trying to enter. Around a thousand Afghans are believed to be crossing into Turkey every day.
Afghanistan has been the origin of refugee streams for many years now, making it a place where human smuggling flourishes. The transfer fee for Afghan migrants bound for Istanbul is $1,500 (€1,276).
The Pentagon details that Turkey sent between 3,500 and 3,800 Syrian mercenaries to Libya in the first quarter of last year.
On Monday, Najla Al-Manqoush, the foreign minister of Libya’s interim government called for the departure of all foreign forces and mercenaries, including Turkish troops, from the oil-rich North African country. That was seen as a rebuke to Turkey and angered pro-Turkey factions in western Libya.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has again urged countries to withdraw all foreign fighters and mercenaries from Libya, saying they continue to operate throughout the conflict-stricken North African country in violation of last October’s cease-fire agreement “with no discernible abatement of their activities.”
The UN chief also warned that the presence and activities of violent extremist organizations including affiliates of Muslim Brotherhood, Al-Qaida and ISIS extremist group “were reported in all regions, including in the form of direct threats against civilians and United Nations personnel and attacks against security forces.”
First and foremost, Afghanistan’s long-time Western donors - should provide effective assistance to the country’s people in order to reduce or curb migration flows.
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