AFGHANISTAN WELCOMES TURKEY’S SUPPORT IN SAFEGUARDING KABUL AIRPORT

Mon 21 June 2021:

Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Haneef Atmar said that his country welcomes and supports more Turkish involvement, including in protecting the Kabul airport after the US withdrawal.

Earlier in June, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey was planning to guard the Kabul airport after the US troops withdrawal from Afghanistan. The issue was discussed in his talks with US President Joe Biden. Russia’s Special Presidential Representative for Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov said that Turkey’s plans violate the US agreement with the Taliban.

“We welcome it and we will support it. We believe that this will be essential for continuation of Turkish and NATO, as well as the international community’s support to Afghanistan,” the foreign minister said in an interview with TRT World, published on his Twitter account.

The minister added that Turkey will be the lead nation that will provide security for the Kabul airport and while doing so, may receive support from the rest of the NATO member countries.

Atmar added that the role of Pakistan is also “exceedingly important in the peace process” and stabilization efforts.

‘Unacceptable’

The Taliban said Friday its leaders already had conveyed to Turkey their opposition to any foreign troops remaining in Afghanistan after the U.S. and NATO forces leave the war-torn country by a September 11 deadline.

The Taliban’s statement comes a day after U.S. officials said President Joe Biden and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed in their meeting Monday that Turkey would continue providing security at the international airport in Kabul, the Afghan capital, following the troop pullout.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said, “If foreign forces want to retain a military presence here in the name of airport security, Afghans will not allow it and will view them as invaders, be it Turkey or any other country,” Mujahid told VOA.

He insisted the Taliban maintain “diplomatic ties” with Turkey and seek “brotherly” relations with the Islamic country.

“In recent meetings and discussions with Turkish diplomats they had shared with us [Turkey’s] proposed continued military presence here, but we told them it was unacceptable for us. And they assured us that our stance will be conveyed to their leadership,” Mujahid said.

Around 7,000 forces from 36 countries involved in the NATO mission and 2,500 US troops have already left Afghanistan.

US air support has already risen in recent weeks to counter the Taliban’s offensives. The Taliban have already seized several districts and overrun Afghan military bases.

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