Consider Helping Taliban Operate Kabul Airport, Turkey: Runways, Towers And Terminals Need Repair

Illustration of evacuation from Kabul airport, Afghanistan. (Twitter/@DeptofDefense)

JAKARTA - Repairs need to be carried out at Kabul's airport before it can be opened to civil flights, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Sunday, as Ankara considered providing assistance to the Taliban to operate the airport.

Ankara has been in talks with the Taliban about providing technical assistance to operate Kabul airport after the August 31 deadline for troops to leave Afghanistan. But the recent bombings underscore the need for Turkish troops to protect every expert stationed there.

Cavusoglu said on Sunday inspection reports showed the runway, towers, and terminals, including those on the civilian side of the airport, were damaged and needed repair.

“Personnel is needed for this. Likewise, the necessary equipment needs to be provided," he said, as reported by Reuters on Monday, August 30.

Turkey, which is part of the NATO mission in Afghanistan, has been in charge of security at the airport for the past six years. Keeping airports open after foreign forces give up control is essential, not only for Afghanistan to stay connected to the world but also for maintaining supply and relief operations.

Speaking at a news conference with his German counterpart, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, Cavusoglu said Kabul's airport initially needed to be put into operation to help deliver humanitarian aid to the country and resume evacuations.

"But also for airports to be open to civil aviation, including Turkish Airlines, the shortcomings we mentioned need to be addressed and work has to be done," he said, adding that the request was being forwarded to the Taliban.

Meanwhile, Heiko Maas said Germany was grateful to Turkey for its offer to continue to help run the airport after the NATO withdrawal. He said Germany was ready to support it financially and technically.

Separately, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told Reuters on Saturday, "it is too early to decide whether we will need Turkish or Qatari assistance to operate Kabul airport."

Last week, President Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey had not yet made a final decision on operating the airport due to security concerns, insisting his country was "in no hurry to start flights" again to Kabul.

"How can we provide security to you (Taliban)? How do we explain it to the world if you take over security and there is more bloodshed there? This is not an easy job," he was quoted as saying by NTV on Sunday.