Greece's borders to remain secure amid developments in Afghanistan

Greece's borders will remain secure in wake of developments in Afghanistan, said a Greek minister during a visit Friday to the Evros region near the border with Turkey, according to the country's national news agency AMNA ,reported Xinhua.

"The crisis in Afghanistan has changed the geopolitical sphere and increased the possibility of migration flows," said Citizen Protection Minister Michalis Chrisochoidis.

"We examined ways to boost the borders. Greece continues to shield against any possible or existing security threat," National Defense Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos said.

Following the increased pressure on Evros borders in spring 2020, the Greek government has upgraded surveillance systems, and the construction of a 40 kilometers long new border fence has been completed, according to the minister.

Many Greek officials have stated this week following the recent Taliban takeover of most parts of Afghanistan that Greece is on alert to avoid a replay of the 2015 refugee and migrant crisis. Athens has repeatedly asked for a common European approach to address any new challenges.

Since 2015 more than one million people reached Greece, fleeing war zones and extreme poverty countries, among them many were Afghans.

Most continued their journeys to other European countries until the spring of 2016 when the borders en route from the Balkan country to central Europe were closed.

Currently Greece hosts some 46,000 asylum seekers in state-run structures, according to the latest data provided by the Greek Migration and Asylum Ministry.