BERLIN - The Turkish defense minister reiterated on Tuesday Turkey's support for Afghanistan.
Turkey's National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul said that Turkey not only assisted Afghan people but also supported the reconstruction of that country.
"Turkey did not take part in efforts to counter terrorism in Afghanistan, but assisted reconstruction of the country," Gonul told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting on "security policy and defense industry" in Berlin, Germany.
Gonul said that Turkey did not join the "Operation Enduring Freedom" because it was in fact fighting against terrorism in its own territories and it was not right for Turkey to fight in a new front.
The minister underlined importance of Turkey's participation in ISAF and NATO as the only Muslim country.
Gonul said that a new method named "comprehensive approach" had been assumed to coordinate international and national forces in Afghanistan.
"This meeting was about how this approach would be assumed," he said.
Gonul said that the military casualties of ISAF, NATO and other international organizations in Afghanistan were just 800, but those of Afghanistan were 4,000.
"The military force coming from various countries to Afghanistan is 70,000 right now, but the troops Pakistan is keeping at its border (with Afghanistan) are 90,000," Gonul said.
Gonul said that these efforts of Pakistan should not be ignored, but said that there were still some obstacles to be eliminated to reach "economic building" and "national building" target.
ISAF is a NATO-led security and development mission in Afghanistan established by the United Nations Security Council on 20 December 2001.
Turkey commanded the force twice, once from June 2002 to February 2003 and the second from February 2005 to August 2005.
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