Afghan FM talks on Kabul airport’s protection by Turkey

The Afghan government will provide security for the Kabul airport, and a small group of Turkish soldiers will guard the Turkish air traffic, communications, and fire safety specialists working at the airport, Afghan Foreign Minister Mohammad Haneef Atmar said in an interview with Izvestia newspaper, Report informs referring to TASS.

“Let me be clear. The Turkish government is not going to ensure the security of the airport in Kabul. They provide important services, for example, in air traffic, communications, fire safety. Inside the airport, there will be their soldiers - a small group of people for their protection. This is while the government of Afghanistan will provide security inside and outside the airport,” Atmar said.

Commenting on the issue that Ankara’s initiative was coordinated with Washington, but without consulting the administration of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, the minister pointed out that “Turkey nevertheless first raised this issue with Afghanistan and the countries reached a consensus,” and only then the topic was brought up for discussion with NATO and the US. “My colleague in Turkey, my friend Mevlut Cavusoglu, announced a couple of weeks ago that the Afghan government is inviting Turkey to carry out this important international standard operation at the airport,” the Afghan foreign minister added.