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Turkey represents impartiality in Afghanistan and could play a role in supporting US interests against the Taliban, a foreign policy expert said on Sunday.
Highlighting Turkey’s growing role in Central Asia, Afghanistan and the Caucasus, the director of the Heritage Foreign Policy Center, Luke Coffey, said the country’s membership in NATO has benefited the United States.
He was speaking during a series of talks organized by the Turkish Presidential Communication Directorate on the sidelines of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Coffey noted that almost all parties in Afghanistan view Turkey as an impartial mediator and that the country can easily coordinate with the Taliban if there are cases of hostages or distribution of humanitarian aid.
“Whether you support the Taliban or the resistance movement, or if you are someone who just wants to get on with their life, I think Turkey and the Turkish flag represent impartiality,” Coffey said, adding that it can benefit in the United States and Afghanistan. people.
Referring to the failure of the Biden administration in Afghanistan as a fiasco, Coffey said the United States’ image and prestige around the world had been tarnished, saying the administration had not properly handled the process.
Turkey had negotiated with the Taliban and Washington to play a role in protecting the airport after the recent withdrawal of US troops. But the swift capture of the Afghan capital by the Taliban changed Ankara’s plans.
After the Taliban took control of the country, Turkey offered to provide technical and security assistance at the airport.
Keeping the airport open after the transfer of control by foreign forces is vital not only for Afghanistan to remain connected to the world, but also to maintain supplies and aid operations.
Turkish officials said the Taliban asked Turkey for technical assistance to manage Kabul airport after foreign forces left, but insisted that Ankara’s army also withdraw completely by the end. of the August deadline.
The Turkish government has taken a pragmatic approach to the recent events in Afghanistan. Stressing that new realities have emerged in Afghanistan, Ankara said it will move forward accordingly while keeping open communication with all relevant actors.
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