President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Aug. 18 said Turkey was still prepared to protect Kabul airport following the Taliban takeover, and Ankara was talking with all concerned parties.
Ankara has negotiated with U.S. defense officials since offering to help secure and run Kabul airport, which is key to allowing countries to retain a diplomatic presence in Afghanistan after the U.S. troop withdrawal.
But the swift Taliban takeover has left the Turkish plan in limbo.
“We are now doing our planning according to the new realities that emerged on the ground and holding our negotiations accordingly,” said Erdoğan.
Americans officials say they continue to talk to Ankara about security arrangements for the airport and have expressed gratitude for the role of Turkey in evacuating civilians from Kabul.
“Turkey’s military presence in Afghanistan will give the new administration an upper hand in the international arena and facilitate its job,” Erdoğan said.
Whoever holds power, Erdoğan added, Turkey will stand by Afghanistan, repeating that he was ready to meet the Taliban leaders.
“We welcome restrained and moderate statements made by the Taliban,” he added.
Erdoğan said he would speak with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin in the coming days.
Turkey’s priority is to ensure the peace and security of Turks in Afghanistan, Erdogan stressed, adding that 552 Turkish citizens have been evacuated from the country so far.
157 kilometers of Iran border wall completed
Underlining that Turkey is making a “great effort” to increase the effectiveness in the fight against irregular migration, Erdogan said: “We have put in place different measures to strengthen our border security.”
He said a border wall will be built along four Turkish provinces at the Iran border – Ağrı, Hakkari, Igdir and Van.
The president said parts of the wall in Ağrı and Iğdır were completed and work is halfway through in Hakkari.
Erdoğan said the wall is not only for preventing irregular migration but also against terrorism.
Hurriyet Daily News