KABUL: The Taliban on Monday warned Turkey against keeping its troops in Afghanistan to run and guard the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, adding that any country that opted to retain soldiers in the war-torn country after the US and NATO withdrawal would be treated as an “occupier.”
Turkey has more than 500 troops in Afghanistan as part of a non-combat NATO mission, with some soldiers training Afghan security forces and others serving at the international airport in the capital.
As NATO’s only Muslim member, Turkey’s non-combat troops have rarely been attacked by the Taliban or other insurgent groups in Afghanistan, with Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Taliban, telling Arab News on Monday the group wanted “normal ties” with Ankara.
However, he rejected Ankara’s proposal that its troops stay behind to oversee Kabul airport’s operations.
“Turkey has been in Afghanistan for the past 20 years with NATO, and if it wants to remain now, without any doubt, we regard it as an occupier and will act against it,” Mujahid said. “We have lots of commonalities with Turkey…and they are Muslim, but if they intervene and keep its troops, then it will bear the responsibility.”
On Friday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Ankara had reached a conditional deal with Washington to take over security of Kabul airport after the withdrawal. But Ankara says it cannot carry out the mission without support and would need additional troops for it.
Since the drawdown of coalition forces began on May 1, the Taliban have made rapid territorial gains against Afghan government forces in several regions, including areas near Kabul.
The Taliban’s advances have stoked fears about security in Kabul and its airport, which has come under rocket strikes by both Taliban and Daesh affiliates in the past, despite the presence of coalition forces at the facility.
The airport’s security is crucial for military and civilian flights and the safe passage of international aid groups and diplomats residing in Afghanistan.
An Afghan defense ministry spokesman said Kabul airport had been fitted with an air defense system to counter incoming rockets over the weekend.
“This system installed at Kabul airport, [which] has been tested in other parts of the world, will be highly effective in foiling rocket attacks on Kabul airport as well,” Fawad Aman said.
Taliban say will consider Turkey an ‘occupier’ if it retains troops at Kabul airport
https://arab.news/5ep6q
Taliban say will consider Turkey an ‘occupier’ if it retains troops at Kabul airport
- Spokesman says Turkey to “bear responsibility” if it decides to intervene and keep its troops to guard airport
- Ankara says has reached conditional deal with Washington to take over security of Kabul airport
Pakistan demands ‘equitable’ climate finance for vulnerable states at UN forum
- Pakistan repeatedly suffers from deadly climate disasters, including floods this year that killed over 1,000 people during monsoon
- Pakistan minister stresses role of international cooperation, private sector engagement for environmental sustainability
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Minister for Climate Change Dr. Musadik Malik on Saturday called for an “equitable, accessible” climate finance for vulnerable nations, saying that climate action must be treated as a shared global responsibility.
Malik was speaking at a high-level conference titled: “The Bottom Line: Why Tackling Environmental Degradation Is Critical to the Future of the Global Financial System” held on the sidelines of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) in Nairobi.
Pakistan has suffered repeated climate-inducted disasters frequently over the years. Devastating floods this year claimed over 1,000 lives in the country during the monsoon season. Super floods in 2022 cost the country an estimated $30 billion in damages.
“Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Dr. Musadik Malik has stressed that environmental degradation poses systemic risks to the global financial system and called for more accessible and equitable climate finance for vulnerable countries,” state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported.
Participants highlighted the importance of policy coherence, effective regulatory frameworks and whole-of-government approaches to create enabling conditions for sustainable finance.
Pakistan has been pushing for easy access and terms of financing for developing countries that suffer from climate change effects over the past few years at global events such as the Conference of the Parties (COP) and World Economic Forum.
Dr. Malik noted that countries contributing least to global emissions were among those facing the “most severe” impacts of climate change.
Pakistan contributes less than 1 percent to the total greenhouse gas emissions.
“The minister underscored the role of international cooperation and responsible private sector engagement in ensuring that financial stability and environmental sustainability reinforce each other,” the APP report said.
The summit brought together global leaders, policymakers, financial regulators and experts to discuss how governments are steering private finance toward pathways that strengthen economic and financial stability.
Discussions also focused on mobilizing private capital for high-impact sectors and integrating environmental risks into financial decision-making processes.
