On Saturday, the Kremlin stated that Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and Turkey’s Tayyip Erdogan have discussed the situation in Afghanistan during a phone call and agreed to strengthen bilateral coordination on Afghan issues.
The presidents primarily discussed the priorities which are counter-terrorism and tackling drug trafficking. With the Taliban seizing control of Kabul last week, thousands of Afghan civilians and military allies are fleeing for safety. President Erdogan hopes for a soft transition in the country and stated that it was important that the Taliban not repeat previous mistakes as to keep their promises with an ethnically inclusive approach.
Erdogan told Putin, “The new government to be formed in Afghanistan should be inclusive and representative of the diversity of the Afghan people.” On Wednesday, Erdogan stated the Turkey will still maintain security at Kabul airport after Taliban fighters took control of Afghanistan’s capital.
