Erdoğan says Turkey still willing to protect Kabul airport

Turkey is ready for any kind of cooperation for the comfort of the Afghan people, well-being of its Turkish kin and protection of its interests in Afghanistan, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said, stressing the continued military presence of the Turkish troops at Kabul airport will be to the benefit of the new Afghan administration.

"With the Taliban taking control of the country, a new picture has emerged before us. We make our plans according to these new realities emerging in the field and continue our negotiations accordingly," President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said in a televised interview late Aug. 18.

Erdoğan informed that the relevant Turkish institutions were already in contact with the Taliban for a while and recalled that he had stated that he can invite Taliban leaders to talk about the future of the country.

"We maintain this attitude today. We are ready for all kinds of cooperation for the peace of the Afghan people, the well-being of our Turkish kin living in this country, and the protection of our country's interests," he stated.

Turkey and Afghanistan have a unique historical and cultural bond and standing by this country in its good and bad day, regardless of who is in power, it is a requirement of the brotherly relationship between the two nations, Erdoğan said.

"We welcome moderate and restrained statements by Taliban leaders," the president said, recalling that Taliban's approach towards Turkey has never been sharp. "[The Taliban] are more careful and sensitive towards us in regards to its foreign policy. I hope this sensitivity will go on in the same way afterwards," he maintained.

Turkey wants to stay at Kabul airport

Although Turkey has served as...