Afghanistan eyes strengthening friendly ties with Turkey

Afghanistan looks forward to deepening relations of friendship with Turkey, the country's national security adviser said during a meeting with the Turkish ambassador in the capital Kabul on Monday.

In little over a week since taking charge, Turkey's Ambassador to Afghanistan Cihad Erginay met with a number of top Afghan officials, assuring them of Turkey's continued support for the peace process and development in the war-weary country.

National Security Advisor Hamdullah Mohib's office tweeted after the meeting, stating that Erginay expressed Turkey's continued partnership and support to Afghanistan.

Earlier this month, Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani hailed Turkey's efforts for peace in Afghanistan as the country witnessed a surge in Taliban assaults following a brief truce.

Upon request of the US, Turkey pledged to host a high-level international peace conference on Afghanistan in April, but the Taliban declined to attend, forcing Ankara to postpone it.

Instead, a trilateral conference of Pakistani, Afghan, and Turkish foreign ministers was held on April 23 that called on the Taliban to return to the negotiating table and resume peace talks.

At the end of the meeting, all three countries deplored the high level of violence in the joint declaration and emphasized an immediate, sustainable, and comprehensive cease-fire as a prerequisite for creating a conducive atmosphere for the success of peace talks.

The three also reiterated their commitment to a peaceful, sovereign, independent, democratic, and united Afghanistan.

Since US President Joe Biden announced a withdrawal date for American troops in September 2021, Afghanistan has seen an increase in deadly Taliban assaults on security forces and law-enforcement agencies across the country, resulting in mounting casualties on all sides.