Erdogan Urges Taliban to Stop ‘Occupation’ in Afghanistan

ANKARA – President Turkey, Tayyip Erdogan said that Taliban must end the occupation of Afghanistan. This statement played down warnings from the militant group about the consequences if Turkish troops remained in Afghanistan to run Kabul airport.

The Taliban ruled Afghanistan with an iron fist from 1996 to 2001 and have fought for 20 years to overthrow the Western-backed government in Kabul and reimpose Islamic rule.

The group is making a new push now to gain territory as foreign troops begin to withdraw from Afghanistan. Also read: Afghan embassy releases video of civilians beheaded by the Taliban

“(The Taliban) must end the occupation of their brothers’ lands and show the world that peace prevails in Afghanistan, immediately,” Erdogan said.

Erdogan, as reported by Reuters on Tuesday (20/7/2021), said the approach of the Taliban is not the way Muslims should deal with one another. Also read: Conflict Heats Up, Afghanistan Accuses Pakistan Of Supporting Taliban

Ankara, which had offered to run and maintain Kabul’s airport after NATO withdrew, has been in talks with the United States about financial, political and logistical support for the deployment.

Last week the Taliban had warned Turkey against plans to keep some troops in Afghanistan to run the airport, calling the strategy despicable and warning of the consequences.

(ian)

– .