‘TURKEY COULD CONTINUE TO OPERATE AT KABUL AIRPORT’ -IBRAHIM KALIN

Thu 26 August 2021:

Turkey could remain in Afghanistan to provide technical support to the Taliban in operating Hamid Karzai International Airport in the capital Kabul following the evacuation of its troops, a top Turkish official said Wednesday.

“After our troops withdraw, we could continue this operational task at the airport there. If it is agreed in the terms and an agreement is reached in this direction, we will continue to provide this service there,” said Turkish presidential spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin.

The National Defense Ministry announced Wednesday that Turkey has started evacuating its troops from Afghanistan.

Since 2002, the Turkish Armed Forces have operated in Afghanistan under the UN, NATO and bilateral agreements to contribute to the peace, welfare and stability of the Afghan people, the statement said.

Speaking to the NTV news channel, Kalin said the troop withdrawal would take up to 36 hours.

“After fulfilling their duties in an excellent and honored way, Turkish soldiers in Afghanistan are returning home. Turkey will continue to work for the peace, security and prosperity of our Afghan brothers and sisters,” he said earlier on Twitter.

Kalin also underlined the importance of securing the airport, adding that negotiations continue on Turkish civilian experts providing technical support at the airport.

He also questioned the Taliban’s “capacity” on “establishing the security structure” at the airport.

He recalled that Turkey’s civil diplomatic mission is continuing its duties in Afghanistan, although some employees have been evacuated.

“Our ambassador is there, our embassy employees are there. We evacuated some of them, but the main staff is there, and they continue their work,” he said.

Taliban ask Turkey for support to run airport

Taliban called on Turkey and world countries to assist Afghanistan, days after the group seized power in the war-torn country https://t.co/GuBRKEPS6s pic.twitter.com/HItbX7eXTX

— ANADOLU AGENCY (@anadoluagency) August 25, 2021

Taliban urge Turkey, world to assist Afghanistan

Speaking in an interview with Anadolu Agency on Wednesday, Mohammad Naeem, spokesman for the Taliban’s political office, said the Afghan movement has been targeted by the media for the past two decades and has been denied the right to defend itself.

“Turkey is an important country in the world and the Turkish people are brotherly Muslim people and we maintain historic, social and cultural relationship [with Turkey],” Naeem said.

The Taliban spokesman said his group is in contact with the Turkish state. “We want to establish good relations with Turkey and develop this relationship in the future,” he added.

Naeem said that the Afghan people have been ravaged by war for the past four decades.

“The Afghan people need assistance and we call on all countries, particularly Turkey, to help our people and our country,” he added.

The spokesman added that Turkey could “play an important and constructive role in Afghanistan in terms of rebuilding the war-torn country”.

Relations with Taliban

Speaking on relations with the Taliban, Kalin said the “steps to be taken in the field” would determine the main agenda for relations between the two sides.

At this point, he said, the “most important step” is the establishment of an “encompassing, embracing and inclusive government” in the war-torn country.

He also recalled President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s approach that the Taliban’s actions and not words will determine the future course of action in Afghanistan.

The Turkish government approaches the messages from Taliban leaders with “cautious optimism for now,” said Erdogan, adding that Ankara continues to be in “close dialogue” with all parties in the country.

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