Taliban-formed Government Is Not Inclusive, President Erdogan: We Will Not Be Present In Afghanistan

Illustration of Kabul airport, Afghanistan. (Wikimedia Commons/Masoud Akbari)

JAKARTA - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan again highlighted and emphasized the importance of inclusive governance in Afghanistan. This time, President Erdogan called inclusive governance important in reaching an agreement on the operation of Kabul airport.

Last week, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also highlighted the importance of inclusive governance in Afghanistan at the 76th United Nations General Assembly.

"The government in Afghanistan is not inclusive, does not embrace all the different factions. As long as that is a question, we will not be present in Afghanistan. But, if the government will be more inclusive, we can be there, present, as Turkey," President Erdogan told American broadcaster CBS News, citing Daily Sabah September 26

"We expect all women to be involved in every aspect of life in Afghanistan in a very active way. And whenever women become more active in every aspect of life, we can support them," he added, according to a transcript of the interview provided by CBS News.

To note, Turkey had operated Kabul airport for six years, before the US withdrawal and the rise of the Taliban. The leaders, along with Qatar, have discussed reopening.

Meanwhile, President Erdogan discussed Turkey's airport management with United States President Joe Biden during their first meeting in June on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Brussels.

In addition to the Kabul airport issue, President Erdogan also said Afghanistan would not be safer with the United States military presence in the country.

"With America's presence for two decades, the region is no safer. On the contrary, every day the region is losing more blood," said President Erdogan.

He said, Uncle Sam's country needs to question his 20 years there, and their return at the end of August.

Separately, the Taliban urged international airlines to resume flights to Kabul, saying all technical problems at the country's main airport had been resolved. Facilities at Kabul's airport were badly damaged in the chaos of the evacuation of more than 120.000 people that ended August 30 with the last US troop withdrawal.

Since then only charter flights have been in operation, although Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Iran's Mahan Air, and Afghanistan's Kam Air have run a number of dedicated flights.