Turkey says to provide support if Afghan people’s rights are protected

ISTANBUL – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed on Friday to provide all kinds of support to the Afghan people as long as the Taliban administration protects their rights on every platform.

“We will give all kinds of support… as long as the new administration in Afghanistan takes a fair approach in protecting the rights of the Afghan people in international relations,” Erdogan told reporters after Friday prayers in Istanbul.

On Thursday, a senior delegation of Taliban met Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in Ankara, the first meeting of its kind since the group took power in August.

Erdogan said that during yesterday’s talks, the Afghan delegation asked for humanitarian aid and made some requests about the functionality of the new process in Afghanistan.

The president stressed that Turkey has an ancient brotherhood and friendship with the Afghan people, and it is not possible for the country to put them aside.

“Having, previously, run the Kabul airport, Turkey can take similar steps in the future along with Qatar and Afghanistan if deals can be reached,” Erdogan said.