Turkey is still ready to protect Kabul airport after the Taliban take power, and Ankara is in talks with all parties concerned, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday.
Read also On the tarmac at Kabul airport, scenes of chaos and despair
“We intended to ensure the security of the airport and to contribute to the security of this country after the withdrawal of the American (troops). We still intend to, ”
Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in a television interview.
"We are now planning according to the new realities which have appeared on the ground and we are conducting our negotiations accordingly"
, declared the Turkish head of state. US officials said discussions on the matter were continuing with Ankara and expressed gratitude for Turkey's role in evacuating civilians from Kabul.
"Turkey's military presence in Afghanistan will give the new (Afghan) administration an advantage on the international stage and facilitate its work"
, added Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Turkey alongside Afghanistan
Turkey will stand alongside Afghanistan, he added, adding that he was ready to meet with Taliban leaders.
"We welcome the moderate statements made by the Taliban,"
he added.
Read alsoAfghanistan: the West cautious in the face of the Taliban's rhetoric
Recep Tayyip Erdogan has indicated that he will meet in the coming days with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Turkey has so far evacuated 552 Turkish citizens from Kabul.
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