On Friday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogen informed that Turkey has held its first talk with the Taliban after it captured Afghanistan. President further said that Ankara was still assessing the Islamist group's offer to run Kabul's airport.
As per the media agency AFP, the leader said, “We have held our first talks with the Taliban, which lasted 3.5 hours. If necessary, we will have the opportunity to hold such talks again.”
Turkish president further said that the talks were held between a military section of the Kabul airport, where the Turkish embassy has been stationed.
Also Read: Kabul blast death toll rises to 110; Britain says evacuation to be over in ‘matter of hours’
He further responded to the criticism over Turkey’s engagement with the rebel group, Erdogan said Ankara had "no luxury" to stand idly by in the volatile region. He said, “You cannot know what their expectations are or what our expectations are without talking. What's diplomacy, my friend? This is diplomacy.”
Earlier, Turkey promised to secure and run Afghanistan’s capital but on Wednesday it started pulling its troops out of Afghanistan, which is an apparent sign of Ankara's abandoning this goal.
Turkey's leader further said that the Taliban is offering Ankara to run its logistics as the terrorist group now wanted to oversee the security on Kabul’s airport. Erdogen said, “They said: 'we will ensure the security, you operate (the airport'. We have not made any decision on this issue yet.” He continued and said, “We will decide once calm prevails.”