The Taliban have asked Turkey for technical help to run Kabul airport after the departure of foreign forces but insist that Ankara’s military also withdraw fully by the end-August deadline, two Turkish officials told Reuters.

The conditional request by the Islamist Taliban, who swept back to power in Afghanistan 20 years after they were ousted in a U.S. invasion, leaves Ankara with a difficult decision over whether to accept a hazardous job, one official said.

Mainly Muslim Turkey was part of a NATO mission in Afghanistan and still has hundreds of troops at Kabul airport. The officials say they are ready to withdraw at short notice.

But President Tayyip Erdogan’s government has said for months that it could keep a presence at the airport if requested. After the Taliban seized control of the country Turkey offered technical and security assistance at the airport.

“The Taliban have made a request for technical support in running Kabul airport,” a senior Turkish official said, adding however that the Taliban demand for all Turkish troops to leave would complicate any prospective mission.

“Ensuring the safety of workers without the Turkish Armed Forces is a risky job,” he said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Talks with the Taliban on the issue were ongoing and, in the meantime, preparations for a troop withdrawal had been completed, he said.

It was unclear whether Turkey would agree to give technical assistance if its troops were not there to provide security.

Another Turkish official said a final decision would be made by the Aug. 31 deadline for foreign forces to leave the country and end a 20-year military involvement in Afghanistan.

Keeping the airport open after foreign forces hand over control is vital not just for Afghanistan to stay connected to the world but also to maintain aid supplies and operations.

“It’s going to be a critical lifeline for the humanitarian action in Afghanistan,” Mary Ellen McGroarty, World Food Programme director in Afghanistan, said last week.

‘GOOD RELATIONS’

Turkey has praised what it described as moderate statements by the Taliban since they captured Kabul, and has said it is open to engaging with them once a new government is formed.

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said on Tuesday the group sought good ties with Ankara,

“We want good relations with Turkey, the Turkish government and the Muslim people of the Turkish nation. As for Turkish forces stationed in Afghanistan, we are not in need of them in our country and once the evacuation is completed we will secure the airport by ourselves,” Mujahid said.

Turkey had been responsible for securing Kabul airport under the NATO deployment and has been involved in evacuation efforts over the last two weeks.

The United States says it is coordinating with regional partners, as well as the Taliban, about the future operation of Kabul airport.

“A functioning state, a functioning economy, a government that has some semblance of a relationship with the rest of the world, needs a functioning commercial airport,” State Department spokesperson Ned Price said on Monday.

“We are in discussions with the Taliban on this very front. They have indicated to us in no uncertain terms that they seek to have a functioning commercial airport.”

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I would expect they already have the airport zeroed in with mortars and heavier stuff, and could shut down the airport at will.

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Interesting.

Taliban agree to let Afghans leave Afghanistan after US withdrawal deadline of August 31: German envoy — AFP

Ragip Soylu  (@ragipsoylu) August 25, 2021

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Yep. But the Taliban would love to wipe out the American military's elite units. That's going to require an assault. Tally SOP is to blow an opening with a VBIED and rush in.

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They'll keep the ones they want to keep and send the others off to the US.

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Do you all really think that if the airport turned into a stack of US bodies and destroyed planes that we would just turn tail and run?  Even the most ardent lib would be calling for blood.  I highly doubt that it would happen anyway.  It is not in the TB favor to cause us discomfort while we are leaving.  Nothing good would come of it for them.

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I would think they could shut down the runway and trap everyone while also reducing the force at the airport with arty and then go in to finish what remains.

Normally I expect this wouldn't work due to our air support, but I don't think we can provide that type of air support here.

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This is the general I thought went to Bastion when Helmand fell.

That's him on the left before going out on a clearing operation.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E8JTKF_XsAUePe1?format=jpg&name=medium

The bold part is surreal, as we tracked AC-130s and B52s overhead Lashkar Gah here in this thread(page 6). Apparently they did not go weapons free.

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Do you all really think that if the airport turned into a stack of US bodies and destroyed planes that we would just turn tail and run?  Even the most ardent lib would be calling for blood.  I highly doubt that it would happen anyway.  It is not in the TB favor to cause us discomfort while we are leaving.  Nothing good would come of it for them.

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Do you all really think that if the airport turned into a stack of US bodies and destroyed planes that we would just turn tail and run?  Even the most ardent lib would be calling for blood.  I highly doubt that it would happen anyway.  It is not in the TB favor to cause us discomfort while we are leaving.  Nothing good would come of it for them.

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Do you all really think that if the airport turned into a stack of US bodies and destroyed planes that we would just turn tail and run?  Even the most ardent lib would be calling for blood.  I highly doubt that it would happen anyway.  It is not in the TB favor to cause us discomfort while we are leaving.  Nothing good would come of it for them.

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It depends, if they are working with China...What better time to pull some shit (invade Taiwan) than when the cream of the entire western world's trigger pullers are fighting for their lives on a shelled out airfield in Afghanistan.

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Any idea who we flew out of Gitmo yesterday?

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Do you all really think that if the airport turned into a stack of US bodies and destroyed planes that we would just turn tail and run?  Even the most ardent lib would be calling for blood.  I highly doubt that it would happen anyway.  It is not in the TB favor to cause us discomfort while we are leaving.  Nothing good would come of it for them.

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I wonder what GD will do when TB let us leave and turn into a quasi country on the world stage.

I'm guessing still waiting for the bloodbath?

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"Grabbing the belt" means you effectively negate air/arty due to fear of fratricide. Assault has to factor into the fight from their perspective.

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BLINKEN: approx 1,000 Americans remaining in Afghanistan who may need evacuation -- adding that the number is "likely lower"

Jacqui Heinrich  (@JacquiHeinrich) August 25, 2021

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How will they get evacuation? Also I understand the number was ~8,000 remaining.

The people who fear the American Taliban sure seem to trust the real deal.

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BLINKEN: approx 1,000 Americans remaining in Afghanistan who may need evacuation -- adding that the number is "likely lower"

Jacqui Heinrich  (@JacquiHeinrich) August 25, 2021

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It’s been said previously in this thread that we can go get them via rotary wing or vehicle.

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LOL, how would that work?

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Maybe the same way they did it before?

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LOL.

Perhaps the blood of white Trump voters?

I mean, do you really believe this? That there is some deep well spring of patriotism in the Left?

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How? We are leaving now, you expect to drive in or fly in from Pakistan?

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I don't understand the question. I thought you were referring to getting the Americans currently outside Kabul to the airport.

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We are not going to target Kabul and its civilians with our airpower. They don't need to "grab the belt".

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I wonder what GD will do when TB let us leave and turn into a quasi country on the world stage.

I'm guessing still waiting for the bloodbath?

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I would think that even libs would not want to be slapped so hard.

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Surreal. Southern Border - here I come !

Mexico welcomes arrival of its 1st group of Afghan refugees
https://s.hdnux.com/photos/01/21/46/12/21389954/3/ratio3x2_2300.jpg


Mexico accepted its first group of refugees from Afghanistan on Tuesday as five women and one man arrived in Mexico City.

They were welcomed by Foreign Relations Secretary Marcelo Ebrard, who told the group, “Welcome to your home.”

The young women, who had to travel through six countries to reach Mexico, have competed in robotics competitions. They fled Afghanistan after the Taliban took control of the country earlier this month. The Taliban have been hostile to women working or going to school after a certain age.

Ebrard said Mexico would grant them “whatever legal status they consider best.” That could include giving them asylum or refugee status.

https://www.lmtonline.com/news/article/Mexico-welcomes-arrival-of-its-1st-group-of-16409740.php#photo-21389954

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Surreal. Southern Border - here I come !

Mexico welcomes arrival of its 1st group of Afghan refugees
https://s.hdnux.com/photos/01/21/46/12/21389954/3/ratio3x2_2300.jpg

Mexico accepted its first group of refugees from Afghanistan on Tuesday as five women and one man arrived in Mexico City.