Kazakhstan refutes reports of taking Afghan refugees

By Meiramgul Kussainova

NUR SULTAN, Kazakhstan (AA) - Kazakh authorities on Monday denied media reports that President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has decided to accept refugees from Afghanistan.

"Allegations on this subject are unfounded. Only UN personnel will be assisted upon official request," Berik Uali, the president's press secretary, said in a statement.

Uali's response came after some Central Asian news outlets claimed that Kazakhstan would accept 70,000 Afghan refugees.

Meanwhile, Kazakhstan's Foreign Ministry said diplomats will continue to work at the Kabul embassy with a reduced staffing level, and that no evacuation is required at this time.

Tokayev had earlier instructed institutions to keep a close eye on the situation in Afghanistan to make decisions about future cooperation with the war-torn country.

The Taliban have taken over Afghanistan after capturing the capital Kabul on Sunday, and are in the process of establishing their government that had been removed after US-led foreign forces occupied the war-torn country in 2001.

*Writing by Jeyhun Aliyev in Ankara