Turkey shows interest in controlling Kabul airport if NATO allies provide support

Turkey is interested in taking control of Afghanistan`s Hamid Karzai International Airport if North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) allies permit, as the United States declares its troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Kabul: As the United States declares its troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, Turkey is interested in taking control of Afghanistan`s Hamid Karzai International Airport if North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) allies permit. Khaama Press reported that Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said that Turkish forces have agreed to take the control of the Hamid Karzai International Airport if allies provide support."500 Turkish forces in Afghanistan will take the control and responsibility of the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul if financial, logistic and political support is provided by the allies," Akar said in a meeting with its NATO allies. This comes as the withdrawal of the foreign forces which is scheduled to be completed by September 11 have increased concerns among the international community and the diplomatic mission`s presence in Afghanistan. Pentagon officials had earlier said that Pakistan had allowed the US military to use its airspace and given ground access so that it could support its presence in Afghanistan.