Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said Turkey would need “diplomatic, logistic and financial assistance” from the United States and Pakistan’s involvement if it were to maintain troops in Afghanistan to protect and run Kabul’s international airport, following the withdrawal of other NATO troops.
Speaking to reporters on Monday at the end of a series of meetings with NATO leaders on the sidelines of the alliance summit, the Turkish President also said that his country was seeking Pakistan and Hungary’s involvement in a new mission in Afghanistan following the departure of the US-led NATO force.
Turkey is reported to have offered to guard the airport as questions remain on how security will be assured along major transport routes and at the airport, which is the main gateway to Kabul.
“If they don’t want us to leave Afghanistan, if they want a (Turkish) support there, then the diplomatic, logistic and financial support that the United States will give us will of great importance,” Erdogan was quoted as saying by TRT world.