News Agencies – Turkish and US President agreed that Turkey will take the leading role in securing Kabul Airport as the US and NATO withdraw their forces from Afghanistan.
The security of the airport is crucial for the operation of diplomatic missions out of the Afghanistan as Western forces pull out.
“The clear commitment from the leaders was established that Turkey would play a lead role in securing Hamid Karzai International Airport and we are now working through how to execute to get to that,” Sullivan said, Reuters reports.
As Anadolu Agency notes, Sullivan said the US is also mulling the possibility of using security contractors with “extensive experience” in Afghanistan at the airport, but maintained Washington is “feeling good about where we are in terms of the planning with the Turks.”
Federal News Agency (ФАН) reported that on June 7, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar in an interview with the Hürriyet newspaper said that Ankara’s proposal is related to the support of the allies.
“We intend to stay in Afghanistan depending on the conditions. What are our conditions? Political, financial and logistical support. If the conditions are met, we can stay at the Hamid Karzai International Airport, ”he said.
Akar also said that Turkey’s goal is “to bring peace to Afghanistan,” and the Afghan people are brotherly to the Turks. According to the head of the Ministry of Defense, Ankara wants to be able to stay in the South Asian state as long as “the population will need her help.”
