Erdogan claimed that Islamists have proposed the Eurasian country to run Kabul airport

Turkey admits official contacts with Taliban in Kabul

photo_camera Turquía admite contactos oficiales con los talibanes en Kabul

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan admitted Friday that his country has been in official contact with the Taliban militia that has dominated Afghanistan since the middle of the month, and made clear that these meetings will continue.

"Our ambassador has met with the Taliban. The conversation lasted three and a half hours. If necessary, we will have the opportunity to repeat such meetings," Erdogan said at a press conference broadcast live on NTV.

"We don't have the luxury of asking anyone for permission to talk to anyone," he insisted.

Turquía admite contactos oficiales con los talibanes en Kabul

The president condemned yesterday's attack in Kabul claimed by the Islamic State jihadist organisation and expressed his condolences to the families of the victims "and to the Afghan people".

Erdogan said the Taliban have proposed to Turkey to run Kabul airport, a request on which, he said, no decision has yet been made.

"We are in no hurry to resume (civilian) flights," Erdogan said.

He added that the evacuation of Turkish military forces in Afghanistan continues, with military aircraft flying to Islamabad, and that "the priority" is now to evacuate from the Central Asian country all Turkish citizens who wish to do so.

Turquía admite contactos oficiales con los talibanes en Kabul

"What do they expect? What do we expect? We will talk about all this. This is diplomacy. We will continue to do it in a determined way," the Islamist politician said of contacts with the Taliban.

Erdogan considered that "there is now a major power vacuum in Afghanistan" and postponed any decision to "when a clear government has been established".

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