ANKARA -

The Taliban movement's warning to Turkey against keeping its forces in Afghanistan has fueled the heated debate internally and externally over Ankara's decision, which raises questions regarding Turkey's interest in keeping its forces in Kabul after the withdrawal of foreign forces, and whether it is ready to confront the Taliban, which considered any presence A foreigner in the occupied country?

The Taliban announced, in a statement on Tuesday, that "the Turkish leaders' decision is not wise, because it is a violation of our sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, and is contrary to our national interests."

The United States welcomed what it called "Turkey's constructive role" in the ongoing efforts to withdraw foreign forces from Afghanistan.

The leader of the Justice and Development Party, Rasul Tosun, defends the presence of Turkish forces in Afghanistan (Al-Jazeera)

Compromise

In this context, the leader of the ruling Justice and Development Party, Rasul Toson, stated that the Turkish forces, throughout their presence in Afghanistan, did not participate in any hostile or hostile operations against the Afghan people, and were not targeted by the Taliban.

Tosun told Al Jazeera Net that "Turkey has acquired a good reputation and soft power in Afghanistan over the past two decades, and this helped protect its soldiers. Perhaps the country with the most positive image in Afghanistan, which allowed some Turkish construction and contracting companies to work freely there."

Tosun, a former deputy in the Turkish parliament, believes that Ankara will do its best to soften the position of the Taliban and convince them that their stay there is not to implement an American or NATO agenda, but rather to "support the stability of Afghanistan and help its people."

The ruling party leader added, "If Turkish forces operate in Afghanistan under a banner other than NATO's, the Taliban may accept," stressing that Ankara will not remain there alone, but with other partners, Hungary and Pakistan, according to his preference.

And the latter in particular, because of its neighborhood, influence and intelligence role in Afghanistan.

Tosun suggested that Turkey would be able to reach an equation that would keep its forces at Kabul Airport, especially if it was able to form a political and field protection network for it through its relations with the United States and NATO on the one hand, and ensure the tacit approval of the Taliban, on the other.

not an agent

For his part, the adviser to the head of the Turkish Justice and Development Party, Yasin Aktay, said that "Turkey, as a reliable actor, can enjoy the mission of mediation in the long term, and during this, it will be positively accepted by all sides there, even the Taliban."

Aktay rejected the opposition leaders' talk that the Turkish plan in Afghanistan is similar to the implementation of US missions in the region, in the sense of "a proxy."

"Despite the withdrawal of NATO, led by the United States, from the war against the Taliban, the internal situation now warns of the possibility of an internal war breaking out at any moment," he added.

In light of this, Aktay says, "Turkey must not stand against the Taliban, and it must be an element of stability that respects the rights of all components, whether Taliban or others."

bilateral agreement

As for the former Turkish Foreign Minister Hikmet Cetin, who also served as a former representative of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization "NATO" in Afghanistan, he said that the survival of Turkish forces in Afghanistan is subject to the approval of the Taliban, and that without that, it will create many problems.

The Turkish official spoke to Turkish media about another formula for the survival of the Turkish forces, explaining that it is possible to go to Afghanistan with a bilateral agreement, and away from international identity, after the withdrawal of all foreign forces.

In his speech, Cetin goes back to previous talks with the Taliban, pointing out that the movement's objection to the Turkish presence stems from being part of an international force.

In this context, Professor Ahmet Uysal, director of the ORSAM Center - a center for Middle Eastern studies - close to the state in Ankara, said that the Turkish proposal regarding Kabul Airport was heard by the Afghans, and then by Turkish officials, "after the American withdrawal, there will be a great vacuum." And Turkey, being neutral, can play this role in the region."

Uysal added to Al-Jazeera Net, "The Turkish request took place after consultations with the Afghan parties. It is in the interest of Afghanistan that this airport remain international, as the proposal is very reasonable and feasible," noting that Ankara can persuade the Taliban to keep its forces at Kabul Airport.

A NATO soldier near Bagram base in Afghanistan (Al-Jazeera)

Burdens and risks

The newspaper, "Khabar Turk", said that "securing" Kabul Airport means continuing diplomatic relations and participation in security policies in Afghanistan.

And if Turkey is not able to be effective in regulating the internal balances in Afghanistan, which is very difficult under the current circumstances, it may face dangers there.

She added that the problem of the Turkish forces' survival is not related to the number, but rather to the reasons and purpose of their presence in Afghanistan, pointing out that one of Turkey's burdens there is the presence of the "Afghan Turks", who are the Turkish-speaking citizens of Turkmen, Uzbeks and Kyrgyz, in the northern part of the country, who live A state of existential struggle these days.

For its part, the opposition newspaper Cumhuriyet said, "Sending soldiers to Afghanistan under these circumstances not only endangers the lives of Turkish soldiers, but also reduces the respect and love that Turkey enjoyed in Afghanistan."

Ankara is seeking to revive a conference that was previously postponed, as one of its tools in communicating with the Taliban and mediating between it and the Kabul government. As well as to try to convince it of Turkey's position, as well as to support friendly parties that have relations with the movement, such as Qatar and Pakistan.