Afghanistan–United States relations

Turkey's foreign minister on Aug. 18 discussed the latest situation in Afghanistan with his Russian, South Korean, Chinese, Tajik and Australian counterparts, according to diplomatic sources.

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Turkey is ready for any kind of cooperation for the comfort of the Afghan people, well-being of its Turkish kin and protection of its interests in Afghanistan, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said, stressing the continued military presence of the Turkish troops at Kabul airport will be to the benefit of the new Afghan administration.

Turkey has taken all necessary measures for the safety of the Turkish troops based in the Kabul international airport, the defense minister has said, informing that they are ready to implement contingency plans if the conditions in the field change in Afghanistan.

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The Taliban have offered a pledge of reconciliation, vowing no revenge against opponents and to respect women's rights in a "different" rule of Afghanistan from two decades ago.

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NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg thanked Turkey on Aug. 17 for securing Kabul airport and making safe departure possible for those who wish to leave the country.

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Germany is one of several European countries to announce it will stop sending development aid to Afghanistan for now, after the Taliban swept back into power in the country.

"State cooperation on development is suspended for the time being," German Development Minister Gerd Müller said in an interview with the Rheinische Post newspaper.

He added that Brussels would have to co-operate with the radical Afghan movement as they emerged victorious from a decade-long conflict.
The group now has full control of Afghanistan, following the complete collapse of the US-backed Afghan government in 2001.

Former Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic, who is now the president of the Serbian parliament, said on Tuesday that negotiations between the Afghan authorities and the Taliban were held in secret in Serbia a few years ago.

That fear was felt by all the countries on whose territory the U.S. mission is located at the moment when the capital of Afghanistan was conquered before the eyes of the world, practically without a shot being fired.

Turkey's offer in June to guard and manage the international airport in the Afghan capital was a unique opportunity for Ankara to build leverage over the United States, the European Union and NATO.