Taliban wants good relations with Turkey but doesn't want its soldiers in Afghanistan

Photo: AA

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The Taliban wants good relations with Turkey but does not want its military presence in Afghanistan, a spokesperson of the group has said.

Having taken over the country's administration, the group is capable of protecting the Kabul airport, Zabihullah Mujahid said today (August 24) at a press conference in the capital city, which was streamed live by international media.

Turkey has been running Hamid Karzai International Airport for six years as part of a Nato mission and has expressed its willingness to operate and protect it following the withdrawal of the US-led forces.

However, the Taliban has opposed any foreign military in Afghanistan and made no exception for Turkey.

The group sought to develop positive relations with the government and people of Turkey but there would not be a need for a foreign force once the problem at the airport was resolved, said Mujahid.

Last week, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said he didn't regard Turkey's troops in Afghanistan as "foreign military force," pointing out that they have always taken non-combatant roles in the past two decades.

Turkey's troops would strengthen the new administration, he had asserted.

As for the exit of foreign troops from the country, he said, "We will not be extending the (August) 31st deadline."

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"We are not going to let Afghans leave"

Mujahid also asked the US "not (to) encourage our doctors, engineers and educated elite" to leave Afghanistan.

"They (US) can take all the people who belong to them. We are not going to let Afghans leave," he said.

Under the US-Taliban deal signed in Doha last February, the US-led foreign forces were supposed to leave the war-torn country by May 31 this year, which was later unilaterally extended until Aug. 31 by US President Joe Biden.

The "bloodless" takeover has triggered a wave of Afghans rushing to Kabul airport to leave the country. Foreign missions are evacuating their citizens, diplomats as well as some Afghan forces who worked for them.

But the group has urged Afghan nationals to go home, saying life is returning to normal. (KÖ/VK)