Afghan Foreign Minister Visits Ankara, Praises Türkiye's Role in Stability

Afghan Foreign Minister Rengin Dadfar Spanta met with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara on a Thursday in October 2006, following an earlier audience with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer.

Speaking to reporters after the Erdoğan meeting, Spanta said the two sides reviewed the state of bilateral ties and addressed ongoing security challenges in southern Afghanistan, including the fight against terrorism.

Spanta expressed appreciation for Türkiye's contributions to Afghan reconstruction and regional stability, noting that Turkish troops had served in the country on two separate occasions. He also highlighted Türkiye's support across education, the economy, and defense.

On the question of combating al-Qaida, Spanta pointed to the joint Türkiye-France leadership of the Kabul Regional Command as the most significant practical contribution to operations against al-Qaida and the Taliban.

Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in October 2006, in its own words.