Turkey to continue supporting Afghan security: FM Çavuşoğlu

TURKEY has been contributing to the security of Afghanistan and will keep its presence in the country as long as its Afghan brothers demand it, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said yesterday.

Addressing a ceremony to mark the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries in Afghanistan’s capital Kabul via a virtual message, the Turkish top diplomat noted that the bilateral relations have been shaped around the common history and culture of two nations, saying: “Our people have always sided with each other in their most problematic times. During the most difficult periods of our War of Independence, the recognition of our Government of the Grand National Assembly by Afghanistan gave our nation strength. Turkey became the first country that opened an embassy in Kabul. While young Turkey continued its development on the side, on the other side it supported Afghanistan’s efforts to be a self-sufficient strong nation.”

The Government of the Grand National

Assembly, commonly known as the Ankara Government, was the name given to the provisional and revolutionary Turkish government based in Ankara during the Turkish War of Independence against occupant forces following World War I. The Grand National Assembly (TBMM) is today the parliamentary body of Turkey.

Underlining the close cooperation between the two countries in international platforms and multilateral mechanisms, Çavuşoğlu added that they have also acted together against terrorist threats.

Noting Turkey’s aid efforts for Afghanistan during the pandemic, the minister also said that Turkish troops’ support within the NATO mission to Afghan has contributed to the security of the country and will continue as long as its Afghan brothers demand it.

The Turkish Parliament in late 2020 approved a motion to extend the deployment of Turkish troops in Afghanistan for 18 months as part of NATO’s support mission in the war-torn country.