Turkey, Taliban close to reaching deal on operating Kabul airport

[Kaptaan]

Ankara will be required to recognise Taliban as legitimate government of Afghanistan

Turkey and Qatar will jointly operate the Kabul international airport with the former providing security through a private firm, Middle East Eye (MEE) reported on Saturday citing sources.
The MEE report said the draft deal in this regard will be finalised after the US troops withdrawal from the airport is completed by the next week.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s, who is expected to hold consultations on the matter with his Nato allies mainly the US, will give the final approval to the deal with the Taliban.
However, both sides have now cut a draft deal that could resolve the issue.
According to the main points of the draft agreement, Turkey will recognise the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan.
Moreover, Turkey and Qatar will operate the airport in a consortium and Ankara providing security through a private firm, whose staff will consist of former Turkish soldiers and police.
Turkish special forces, operating in plainclothes to secure Turkish technical staff but cannot leave the airport perimeter.
One outstanding issue in the way of the deal is that the former Afghan government had already awarded a contract for the airport last October to a United Arab Emirates-based consortium.
The Taliban will need to cut a separate deal with them.
Also read: Turkey won't help at Kabul airport without its own security: officials
Earlier, an official told Reuters that Turkey will not help run Kabul airport after Nato's withdrawal unless the Taliban agree to a Turkish security presence as deadly attacks outside the airport highlighted the perils of any such mission.
The Taliban have asked Turkey for technical help to run the airport after next Tuesday's deadline for all foreign military forces to pull out of Afghanistan, an ultimatum they say applies equally to Turkish troops.
Turkey, which is part of the Nato mission, has been responsible for security at the airport for the last six years.
Keeping the airport open after foreign forces hand over control is vital not just for Afghanistan to stay connected to the world but also to maintain aid supplies and operations.
On Thursday, just days before the military withdrawal deadline and as countries were still racing to evacuate civilians, at least one Islamic State suicide bomber killed 85 people, including 13 US soldiers, outside the airport gates.
One senior Turkish official said the attack raised doubts about the Taliban's ability to secure the airport or to keep any Turkish operational staff safe.
"The operation can be done by Turkey technically ... but our demand is that security should be ensured by Turkey too, through an extensive security team made up of former soldiers, former police, or a fully private firm," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
"We have not been keen on Turkey operating the airport in an atmosphere where security is provided by the Taliban, and the attacks yesterday showed this was correct."

 

[TR_123456]

Ankara will be required to recognise Taliban as legitimate government of Afghanistan

Turkey and Qatar will jointly operate the Kabul international airport with the former providing security through a private firm, Middle East Eye (MEE) reported on Saturday citing sources.
The MEE report said the draft deal in this regard will be finalised after the US troops withdrawal from the airport is completed by the next week.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s, who is expected to hold consultations on the matter with his Nato allies mainly the US, will give the final approval to the deal with the Taliban.
However, both sides have now cut a draft deal that could resolve the issue.
According to the main points of the draft agreement, Turkey will recognise the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan.
Moreover, Turkey and Qatar will operate the airport in a consortium and Ankara providing security through a private firm, whose staff will consist of former Turkish soldiers and police.
Turkish special forces, operating in plainclothes to secure Turkish technical staff but cannot leave the airport perimeter.
One outstanding issue in the way of the deal is that the former Afghan government had already awarded a contract for the airport last October to a United Arab Emirates-based consortium.
The Taliban will need to cut a separate deal with them.
Also read: Turkey won't help at Kabul airport without its own security: officials
Earlier, an official told Reuters that Turkey will not help run Kabul airport after Nato's withdrawal unless the Taliban agree to a Turkish security presence as deadly attacks outside the airport highlighted the perils of any such mission.
The Taliban have asked Turkey for technical help to run the airport after next Tuesday's deadline for all foreign military forces to pull out of Afghanistan, an ultimatum they say applies equally to Turkish troops.
Turkey, which is part of the Nato mission, has been responsible for security at the airport for the last six years.
Keeping the airport open after foreign forces hand over control is vital not just for Afghanistan to stay connected to the world but also to maintain aid supplies and operations.
On Thursday, just days before the military withdrawal deadline and as countries were still racing to evacuate civilians, at least one Islamic State suicide bomber killed 85 people, including 13 US soldiers, outside the airport gates.
One senior Turkish official said the attack raised doubts about the Taliban's ability to secure the airport or to keep any Turkish operational staff safe.
"The operation can be done by Turkey technically ... but our demand is that security should be ensured by Turkey too, through an extensive security team made up of former soldiers, former police, or a fully private firm," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
"We have not been keen on Turkey operating the airport in an atmosphere where security is provided by the Taliban, and the attacks yesterday showed this was correct."

Why didnt they ask Pakistan?

 

[Kaptaan]

Why didnt they ask Pakistan?

The reason is obvious. The Taliban have been called Pakistan's proxies by the previous regime. Indeed the oft repeated claim was Taliban was just a arm of the Pakistani ISI. Indeed it went even further. To attempt and create dischord the previous regime would label ISI a 'Punjabi Army' which was cheap attempt at trying to divide the Pakistani state along ethnic lines - the reality is the PM of Pakistan is Pashtun, so is many ministers and so is large % of the military.

But this narrative was picked up and amplified by Indian media. The funy thing is they indulged in it so much that they began actually believing in this rubbish. Indeed even American bought into this. This was even reflected on this forum till Kabul fell without a whimper.

The claim that Taliban was a external, Pakistani force fighting against Afghan people was patently false. In fact it was always the other way around. Taliban actually reflected the real Afghanistan and the majority. This is the reason why Taliban lasted 20 years even after facing the most brutaal attacks from might of USA. The average Afghan is a rural farmer and his supported the Taliban. The media would just go to Kabul which actually was a bubble and used the locals their as pulse of Afghanistan.

Going back to my point Pakistan does not want to do anything overtly that might resuscitate that allegation because images of Pakistani soldiers guarding the Kabul Airport would be food for all those who used to blame Pakistan.

Thus for Pakistan the best alternative is a third party with element of impartiality that is also acceptable to the Taliban. This is where Turkey fits in perfectly. I think it is possible that Turkey could end up carving itself as a major influence on IEA which it could even use to mediate with western powers. Meaning Ankara might become the place where western powers call to resolve any issues in Afghanistan.

Clearly IEA have a soft spot for Turkey which I think is from the historical legacy of the Ottoman Empire. I saw a interview of Taliban spokesman and when Turkey was mentioned he went out of his way to show respect and pointed out that their only issue with Turkey was that it was in their country under banner of NATO. If it came as itself IEA would be happy to discuss. This was in referance to the airport.

 

[Ryder]

The reason is obvious. The Taliban have been called Pakistan's proxies by the previous regime. Indeed the oft repeated claim was Taliban was just a arm of the Pakistani ISI. Indeed it went even further. To attempt and create dischord the previous regime would label ISI a 'Punjabi Army' which was cheap attempt at trying to divide the Pakistani state along ethnic lines - the reality is the PM of Pakistan is Pashtun, so is many ministers and so is large % of the military.

But this narrative was picked up and amplified by Indian media. The funy thing is they indulged in it so much that they began actually believing in this rubbish. Indeed even American bought into this. This was even reflected on this forum till Kabul fell without a whimper.

The claim that Taliban was a external, Pakistani force fighting against Afghan people was patently false. In fact it was always the other way around. Taliban actually reflected the real Afghanistan and the majority. This is the reason why Taliban lasted 20 years even after facing the most brutaal attacks from might of USA. The average Afghan is a rural farmer and his supported the Taliban. The media would just go to Kabul which actually was a bubble and used the locals their as pulse of Afghanistan.

Going back to my point Pakistan does not want to do anything overtly that might resuscitate that allegation because images of Pakistani soldiers guarding the Kabul Airport would be food for all those who used to blame Pakistan.

Thus for Pakistan the best alternative is a third party with element of impartiality that is also acceptable to the Taliban. This is where Turkey fits in perfectly. I think it is possible that Turkey could end up carving itself as a major influence on IEA which it could even use to mediate with western powers. Meaning Ankara might become the place where western powers call to resolve any issues in Afghanistan.

Clearly IEA have a soft spot for Turkey which I think is from the historical legacy of the Ottoman Empire. I saw a interview of Taliban spokesman and when Turkey was mentioned he went out of his way to show respect and pointed out that their only issue with Turkey was that it was in their country under banner of NATO. If it came as itself IEA would be happy to discuss. This was in referance to the airport.

Ottoman legacy really does help as a soft power image and the power of respect.

Too bad you have some Turks who constantly reject the Ottoman legacy.

Here is food for thought, the Founder of the Republic of Turkey was an Ottoman officer.

 

[Lool]

Ottoman legacy really does help as a soft power image and the power of respect.

Too bad you have some Turks who constantly reject the Ottoman legacy.

Here is food for thought, the Founder of the Republic of Turkey was an Ottoman officer.

I agree with you
Many in Turkey surprisingly hate the Ottomans which is just mind-blowing tbh
Why would you guys hate your ancestors who created one of the most glorious empires in the world's history. They controlled three major seas, several major trade routes, tons of gold reserves, major uranium stores, and most of the world's oil reserves. If not for arrogance and Arab traitors, you Turks would have been the richest people on this Earth without even having to Work

However, I would also like to point out that this is cleverly Psychological plan crafted by Current Western superpowers like France etc; they dont want the rise of a new Ottoman, that is why for years they have been using the education system under the CHP rule pre 2000s to teach that only Ataturk was the true hero of the republic and secularism and following the rules of the so-called western "democracy" is the only choice for prosperity. As a result, Turkey has several generations both old and new who are tought to believe that the Ottomans was a curse... sadly
Ataturk was a great hero for sure! But was he the only hero Turkey ever had? Hell No! Turkey had several great warriors, tacticians, and scientists during the Ottoman Era as well but the Current Turks believe that they were a disgrace sadly
Just look at Greece, who until this moment wants to revive the Byzantine legacy and take most of the Mediterranean
Look at Russia that wants to revive the former USSR and has already annexed a part of their former land
Look at Iran and their desire to revive the Shia caliphate
Look at Japan, which acts as a democratic country, but still teaches their newer generations about the great lands they used to control during their imperial times that even South Korea complained about it last week
Look at China that is trying to revive their imperial heritage, restore their economic importance and political significance worldwide
The only Nation which suffers from the lack of "flare" are the Germans and the Turks.... and that is why for the WEST, Erdo is the first one that must fall.... period!! Since 4 more years and there might be a new fighting that Turkey may enter and one way or another destroy Western dominance over it

All these countries still have ambition and flare in their hearts, that is why they are gradually growing amd sooner or later will turn the status quo. Sadly, just like the Ottomans in their final years, the West has grown too arrogant and detached from the current world affairs. They still believe that the World looks up to them as a Cradle of Democracy but from how I see it, it is no more than a ticking timebomb that will signal the end of the Western rule

 

[rainmaker]

Ottoman legacy really does help as a soft power image and the power of respect.

Too bad you have some Turks who constantly reject the Ottoman legacy.

Here is food for thought, the Founder of the Republic of Turkey was an Ottoman officer.

I have noticed something....

In Bangladesh there is a self-styled "intellectual" class of people. Allegedly they love secularism. They are not biased against any religion, oh no! They merely want secularism and democracy and human rights.

Yet these same people hate Turkey. Whenever Turkey comes up in a conversation its always endless whining about the Armenian "genocide", "Oppression against Kurds", etc. etc. No end of making fun of Erdogan.

Even though Turkey is a secular country.

EDIT: Of course, the vast majority love Turkey both for historical Islamic links (Islam was spread in Bengal by Turkish Sufi saints) + Ataturk + its a modern secular democratic country

 

[Ryder]

I have noticed something....

In Bangladesh there is a self-styled "intellectual" class of people. Allegedly they love secularism. They are not biased against any religion, oh no! They merely want secularism and democracy and human rights.

Yet these same people hate Turkey. Whenever Turkey comes up in a conversation its always endless whining about the Armenian "genocide", "Oppression against Kurds", etc. etc. No end of making fun of Erdogan.

Even though Turkey is a secular country.

EDIT: Of course, the vast majority love Turkey both for historical Islamic links (Islam was spread in Bengal by Turkish Sufi saints) + Ataturk + its a modern secular democratic country

Turkey has the legacy of the Seljuks and the Ottomans. While at the same time it did not surrender to the European Colonial powers and fought an independance war.

For many Muslims under colonial rule the Turks became a symbol of independance and defiance. Most of the Islamic World got swallowed up Britain, France and Russia. While Indonesia got colonised by the Dutch. Only Turkey managed to become independant.

Ataturk was once even called the next Khalid bin walid or the Next Saladin.

 

[GoatsMilk]

Turkey has the legacy of the Seljuks and the Ottomans. While at the same time it did not surrender to the European Colonial powers and fought an independance war.

For many Muslims under colonial rule the Turks became a symbol of independance and defiance. Most of the Islamic World got swallowed up Britain, France and Russia. While Indonesia got colonised by the Dutch. Only Turkey managed to become independant.

Ataturk was once even called the next Khalid bin walid or the Next Saladin.

The source of western hate and even eastern envy towards Turkey is that not only did Turkey never get colonised by European powers, she was the last non-european people to conquer europeans.

When you take into account that Turkeys population at the end of warld war 1 was a tiny 10 million while England was 50 million or Russia a 120 million, it really shows the resolve and might of the Turks.

 

[Ryder]

The source of western hate and even eastern envy towards Turkey is that not only did Turkey never get colonised by European powers, she was the last non-european people to conquer europeans.

When you take into account that Turkeys population at the end of warld war 1 was a tiny 10 million while England was 50 million or Russia a 120 million, it really shows the resolve and might of the Turks.

Ottoman Empire collapses while European colonial empires now thought Anatolia was ripe for the taking along with their Greek, Armenian and Kurdish proxies.

They failed hard and underestimated the Turks and their resolve because Anatolia was the heartland there was no surrender or withdrawal. The Turks have lost everything I mean when you lost the middle east and the balkans you can easily withdraw back to Turkey but now the motherland was under siege.

If we lost we would either get colonised, butchered, tortured or deported back to Central Asia.

Westerners hate us because they could not wipe us out especially at our worst time in history. Instead of fighting us head on they used their proxies against us.

 

[GoatsMilk]

Ottoman Empire collapses while European colonial empires now thought Anatolia was ripe for the taking along with their Greek, Armenian and Kurdish proxies.

They failed hard and underestimated the Turks and their resolove because Anatolia was the heartland there was no surrender or withdrawal. The Turks have lost everything I mean when you lost the middle east and the balkans you can easily withdraw back to Turkey but now the motherland was under siege.

If we lost we would either get colonised, butchered, tortured or deported back to Central Asia.

Westerners hate us because they could not wipe us out especially at our worst time in history. Instead of fighting us head on they used their proxies against us.

It also runs counter the western racist narrative of superior race. The Turks came as a tiny minority from central asia, took over the roman empires capital and built an empire that for the next few hundreds would challenge the entire might of europe. Even when the Turks fell to their weakest point they still had the power to defeat the western powers attempted occupation of Turkey.

 

[Ryder]

It also runs counter the western racist narrative of superior race. The Turks came as a tiny minority from central asia, took over the roman empires capital and built an empire that for the next few hundreds would challenge the entire might of europe. Even when the Turks fell to their weakest point they still had the power to defeat the western powers attempted occupation of Turkey.

The Turks are so integral to World History.

Turks not just conquered parts of Europe they also conquered parts of Asia and Africa.

You look into Islamic history and the Turks play such a big role.

The Turks also played a big role in defeating the Crusaders and the Mongols. First resistance to the Crusades came from the Turks.

Volga Bulgaria a Turkic state gave Genghis Khan one of his earliest defeats under his reign.

Compare Turkic and Mongol history. Our Mongol cousins were strong for like 100 to 200 years while the Turks were powerful for centuries until the advent of the industrial revolution.

 

[mulj]

I agree with you
Many in Turkey surprisingly hate the Ottomans which is just mind-blowing tbh
Why would you guys hate your ancestors who created one of the most glorious empires in the world's history. They controlled three major seas, several major trade routes, tons of gold reserves, major uranium stores, and most of the world's oil reserves. If not for arrogance and Arab traitors, you Turks would have been the richest people on this Earth without even having to Work

However, I would also like to point out that this is cleverly Psychological plan crafted by Current Western superpowers like France etc; they dont want the rise of a new Ottoman, that is why for years they have been using the education system under the CHP rule pre 2000s to teach that only Ataturk was the true hero of the republic and secularism and following the rules of the so-called western "democracy" is the only choice for prosperity. As a result, Turkey has several generations both old and new who are tought to believe that the Ottomans was a curse... sadly
Ataturk was a great hero for sure! But was he the only hero Turkey ever had? Hell No! Turkey had several great warriors, tacticians, and scientists during the Ottoman Era as well but the Current Turks believe that they were a disgrace sadly
Just look at Greece, who until this moment wants to revive the Byzantine legacy and take most of the Mediterranean
Look at Russia that wants to revive the former USSR and has already annexed a part of their former land
Look at Iran and their desire to revive the Shia caliphate
Look at Japan, which acts as a democratic country, but still teaches their newer generations about the great lands they used to control during their imperial times that even South Korea complained about it last week
Look at China that is trying to revive their imperial heritage, restore their economic importance and political significance worldwide
The only Nation which suffers from the lack of "flare" are the Germans and the Turks.... and that is why for the WEST, Erdo is the first one that must fall.... period!! Since 4 more years and there might be a new fighting that Turkey may enter and one way or another destroy Western dominance over it

All these countries still have ambition and flare in their hearts, that is why they are gradually growing amd sooner or later will turn the status quo. Sadly, just like the Ottomans in their final years, the West has grown too arrogant and detached from the current world affairs. They still believe that the World looks up to them as a Cradle of Democracy but from how I see it, it is no more than a ticking timebomb that will signal the end of the Western rule

Ottomans were predecessor of EU/NATO in so many aspects and that is why it is hated and condemned as the probably only competitor on ideas market to challenge western established hegemony, Utter stupidity is to ditch that legacy when all major powers are rooted on foundations in past which have much less credibility and viability.

 

[mulj]

I have noticed something....

In Bangladesh there is a self-styled "intellectual" class of people. Allegedly they love secularism. They are not biased against any religion, oh no! They merely want secularism and democracy and human rights.

Yet these same people hate Turkey. Whenever Turkey comes up in a conversation its always endless whining about the Armenian "genocide", "Oppression against Kurds", etc. etc. No end of making fun of Erdogan.

Even though Turkey is a secular country.

EDIT: Of course, the vast majority love Turkey both for historical Islamic links (Islam was spread in Bengal by Turkish Sufi saints) + Ataturk + its a modern secular democratic country

secular=rinsed christianity without God, mental slavery...

 

[comolokko]

I have noticed something....

In Bangladesh there is a self-styled "intellectual" class of people. Allegedly they love secularism. They are not biased against any religion, oh no! They merely want secularism and democracy and human rights.

Yet these same people hate Turkey. Whenever Turkey comes up in a conversation its always endless whining about the Armenian "genocide", "Oppression against Kurds", etc. etc. No end of making fun of Erdogan.

Even though Turkey is a secular country.

EDIT: Of course, the vast majority love Turkey both for historical Islamic links (Islam was spread in Bengal by Turkish Sufi saints) + Ataturk + its a modern secular democratic country

religious atheists
communist capitalists
democratic dictators
oppressed terrorists
secular bigots

you can see the masks and their equivalents above. this picture is the same for every uneducated country, it does not change. the magic words are money and authority.