After Erdoğan's remarks, Taliban says it 'shares many common points' with Turkey

Duvar English

One day after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that the Taliban should be comfortable while holding talks with Ankara, a spokesperson of the militant group said that it “shares many common points” with Turkey.

“We want good relations with Turkey. Turkey is our brother; we share many common points based on belief. We want Turkey to relinquish the past and focus on today and future. It is only then that we can ask for a dialogue,” Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid told Turkish public broadcaster TRT's Arabic channel on July 21.

Mujahid said that the security of the Kabil airport and diplomatic missions fall under the responsibility of the Taliban and they will consider any contrary attempt as an intervention to the country's internal affairs.

The spokesperson's comments came a day after Erdoğan said that Turkey-Taliban talks would overcome any problems and should be more comfortable than past U.S.-Taliban talks.

"They need to hold talks with Turkey just like they did with the U.S., but more comfortably because Turkey doesn't have anything that contradicts their beliefs," Erdoğan said on July 20, apparently citing Islam as the common ground between the parties. 

Turkey has offered to deploy troops to the Kabul airport after NATO fully withdraws and has been in talks with the United States for several weeks.

The Taliban, who have gained territory as U.S.-led foreign forces pull out, have warned Turkey against it.

Erdoğan acknowledged that the Taliban had reservations but said Turkey would nonetheless carry out the mission as long as the United States, a NATO partner, meets three specific Turkish requirements.

The Taliban ruled Afghanistan with an iron fist from 1996 to 2001 and have fought for 20 years to expel foreign forces, topple the Western-backed government in Kabul and reimpose Islamic rule.

The Taliban, emboldened by the departure of foreign forces by a September target, have called Turkey's plan reprehensible. Ankara and others have said the airport must stay open to preserve diplomatic missions there.

Erdoğan on July 19 said the Taliban should "end the occupation." 

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