Afghanistan: As Taliban advances, Turkey's role after US withdrawal still unclear

Photo: AA/File

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As the US-led forces are withdrawing from Afghanistan, the Taliban continues seizing territories from the government forces.

The group entered Farah city in western Afghanistan today (August 10), making it the ninth provincial center to be partly or fully captured by the insurgents.

Acknowledging coordinated Taliban assaults on the city which serves as the capital of Farah province, local police spokesperson Farooq Khalid told Anadolu Agency that intense clashes between government forces and the Taliban fighters were underway. He claimed that over 80 advancing Taliban insurgents were killed by security forces.

The Taliban, however, claimed to have reached the city center.

"Two checkpoints were captured near the intelligence and police command center a moment ago, and the 'Mujahideen' launched their attacks on the intelligence and police command center. The battle continues and the 'Mujahideen' advance," tweeted Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahed.

In a major push to repel advancing Taliban from urban centers, the government forces claimed to kill 361 insurgents in air and ground offensives in the past 24 hours.

Farah became the ninth provincial capital after Qala-e-Nau, Lashkargah, Zaranj, Sheberghan, Kunduz, Taluqan, Aybak, and Sar-e-Pul to have been at least partly overrun by the Taliban.

Turkey's role

Turkey and the US have been in talks about a plan for Ankara to keep running the Kabul airport following the US' withdrawal, which it has been doing for the last six years as part of the NATO-led Resolute Support Mission.

The plan was first discussed in mid-June, during the meeting of Erdoğan and US President Joe Biden at the NATO summit. Washington and Ankara have been in talks on the details of the plan.

No official announcement has been made about a final agreement on Turkey's role in the country.

Meanwhile, Turkey's Defense Minister Hulusi Akar paid an official visit to Pakistan today.

Akar, who arrived in Pakistan's capital Islamabad for an official visit, will meet with Pakistani Defense Minister Pervez Khattak, Defense and Production Minister Zobaida Jalal, and Army Chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa.

Akar will discuss bilateral cooperation in military, security, and defense fields as well as the regional issues and latest developments in Afghanistan.​​​​​​​

Refugees

Over the past month, hundreds of Afghan refugees have been crossing to Turkey from Iran every day. Afghans are already the second-largest refugee community in the country after Syrians.

The country also hosts about 320,000 refugees from other countries, including 116,000 Afghans, according to UNHCR figures released in April.

According to videos shared on social media, most of the Afghan refugees coming to the country in the latest wave seem to be young men. They are thought to be former soldiers of Afghanistan, who are now fleeing the Taliban.

The US Department of State last week suggested Turkey as a possible application spot for citizens of Afghanistan who worked for the US government and their families. (PT/VK)