Taliban ask Turkey to leave Afghanistan

TEHRAN: The Taliban Monday called on Turkey to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan like the other Nato countries.

Suhail Shaheen, the Taliban's spokesman, said as a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato), Turkey must withdraw its forces from Afghanistan in accordance with the agreement signed with the United States on February 29, 2020. "All foreign forces, contractors, advisers and trainers should withdraw from the country," Shaheen told BBC, referring to the September deadline. "Turkey is a big Muslim country and Afghanistan has historical relations with it and we hope to have strong and positive relations with it after the formation of the new Islamic government in our country in the future," he said.

The foreign ministers of Iran, Turkey, and Afghanistan held a trilateral meeting in Antalya in late June, where they issued a joint statement at the conclusion of the meeting.

The three countries pledged to contribute to the peace process in Afghanistan and fight against terrorism in the region.

Ankara will run Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul in addition to providing security for it, a Turkish official told 1TV on Monday. The official said Turkey will also contribute to funding for the running of the airport.

According to the official, Turkey’s running and securing of Kabul airport will ensure international diplomatic presence in the city, after foreign troops withdraw from Afghanistan.