Turkey president on need for Afghanistan stability

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday that the international community needs to help normalise the political situation in Afghanistan "in order to establish the security of the people."

Speaking from the city of Bitlis in eastern Turey, Erdogan welcomed the pledges made by the newly established Taliban government "with cautious optimism".

He added that stabilisation in Afghanistan is vital to avoid "new dramas on the western borders" of Turkey and that "Turkey will continue to be in close dialogue with all parties in Afghanistan" with this in mind.

On Wednesday, Turkey began evacuating its troops from Afghanistan after nearly 20 years in the country.

Turkish soldiers have been helping evacuate people from Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul since the Taliban took the city more than a week ago.

The ministry said Turkish military aircraft evacuated 1,129 people.

Prior to the Taliban taking Kabul, NATO member Turkey had offered to secure and operate the airport following the US withdrawal.

Erdogan's spokesman Ibrahim Kalin tweeted: "Turkey will continue to work for the peace, security and prosperity of our Afghan brothers and sisters."

IMAGE: AP