Turkey welcomes moderate statements by Taliban leaders: President

By Burak Bir, Handan Kazanci and Ahmet Gencturk

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey welcomes the moderate statements made by Taliban leaders, the Turkish president said on Wednesday.

"Turkey is ready for all kinds of cooperation for peace in Afghanistan, well-being of our kin in the country and protection of Turkey’s interests," Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at a joint TV interview broadcast live on Kanal 7, Ulke TV, 24 TV, TVNET and TV 360.

He said Turkey's military presence in Afghanistan will strengthen the new Kabul administration's hand in the international arena.

“No matter who is in the administration, standing with Afghanistan in good and bad times is the requirement of brotherhood," Erdogan added.

On the security of Kabul airport, he said that Turkey is making its plans according to the new realities emerging in the field and continuing negotiations accordingly.

Turkey’s priority is to ensure peace and security of Turks in Afghanistan, Erdogan stressed, adding that 552 Turkish citizens have so far been evacuated from the country.

The Turkish leader said that he will likely talk to German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin by weekend.

As part of a peace deal reached in February 2020 between the US and the Taliban, this year international forces began their withdrawal from Afghanistan.

The agreement mandated that the Taliban not target foreign forces, but there was no provision on its action towards Afghan security forces.

While keeping negotiations with the government going in Doha, Qatar, the Taliban intensified its attacks since June, taking control of many districts and provincial centers in the past month.

The Taliban on Sunday took the capital Kabul, with President Ashraf Ghani and other key officials fleeing the country.