The UK government has suspended key visa routes for nationals from four countries, including Afghanistan, in what officials describe as an unprecedented move aimed at curbing misuse of the immigration system.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced that study visas for nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Sudan have been halted. In addition, work visa routes for Afghan nationals have also been suspended.

The Home Office said the decision follows evidence that a growing number of individuals from these countries have entered the UK through legal migration channels — such as student visas — before claiming asylum. Officials argue that this trend amounts to an exploitation of the visa system.

“Britain will always provide refuge to people fleeing war and persecution, but our visa system must not be abused,” Mahmood said in a statement. She described the move as necessary to “restore order and control” to the country’s borders.

According to Home Office figures, approximately 39 percent of the 100,000 people who claimed asylum in 2025 had initially arrived in the UK through legal routes, including study visas.

Authorities said asylum applications from nationals of the four affected countries have accounted for a significant share of the increase recorded between 2021 and September 2025.

The suspension, set to take effect through a formal change to immigration rules on Thursday, marks the first time the UK has imposed such targeted visa bans.

The move follows earlier warnings from Mahmood that visa restrictions could be introduced against other nations unless they cooperated in accepting the return of irregular migrants.

In November, similar threats were made toward Angola, Namibia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, which later reached return agreements with the UK government.

The Home Secretary is expected to outline additional measures to tighten the asylum system in a speech later this week. Proposed reforms include reviewing refugee status every 30 months and requiring individuals to return to their home countries if conditions are deemed safe.

The policy shift comes as the government faces mounting political pressure to reduce asylum backlogs and irregular migration, while balancing its legal obligations under international refugee conventions.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held a telephone conversation Tuesday with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, calling for an urgent return to diplomacy as tensions escalate across the Middle East following recent U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran.

According to Türkiye’s Directorate of Communications, the two leaders discussed bilateral relations as well as rapidly developing regional events.

Erdoğan stressed that renewed diplomatic engagement offers the most viable path to de-escalation and warned that continued military confrontation risks further destabilizing an already fragile region.

The call comes amid heightened tensions after joint U.S.-Israeli strikes targeted senior Iranian figures, dramatically increasing fears of wider conflict. Ankara has consistently advocated dialogue and political solutions in regional disputes, positioning itself as a potential mediator.

Condemnation of Attacks in Pakistan

During the conversation, Erdoğan condemned recent terrorist attacks in Pakistan and reaffirmed Türkiye’s solidarity with Islamabad in its counterterrorism efforts. He underscored the close strategic partnership between the two countries and reiterated Ankara’s commitment to supporting Pakistan’s security and stability.

Türkiye and Pakistan maintain strong diplomatic, economic, and defense ties, with regular high-level exchanges and cooperation across multiple sectors.

Support for Pakistan-Afghanistan Ceasefire

Erdoğan also addressed tensions along the Durand Line, the disputed Afghanistan-Pakistan frontier, expressing Türkiye’s readiness to assist in efforts to restore and maintain a ceasefire between the two neighbors.

Ankara has previously supported mediation and diplomatic engagement aimed at reducing violence along the Durand Line.

The leaders additionally reviewed broader regional developments and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening Türkiye-Pakistan relations.

As instability spreads across the Middle East, Erdoğan’s outreach underscores Ankara’s diplomatic push to contain the crisis and prevent further escalation through dialogue rather than military confrontation.

Zalmay Khalilzad, former United States Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, has said he does not believe the people of Pakistan support policies that have resulted in the killing of Afghan civilians.

Referring to a recent report by the United Nations on civilian casualties, Khalilzad stated on X that the policies of Pakistan’s governing establishment should not be equated with the views of its population.

He added that, in his view, the gap between the Pakistani people and the country’s ruling structure appears to be widening.

His remarks come amid recent UN reports indicating a rise in Afghan civilian casualties following Pakistani regime airstrikes, further intensifying regional tensions.