Erdoğan says he may meet Taliban leader

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Turkish president says he may meet the Taliban leader in an attempt to end escalating violence in Afghanistan.

In an interview late on Wednesday, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said his administration officials were in the process of arranging the meeting.

Speaking to CNN Turk, he said: “Turkey’s relevant institutions are currently working until we have some talks with the Taliban.”

Erdoğan, who also phoned President Ashraf Ghani on Wednesday, earlier discussed with the Qatari leader ways of stopping the Taliban offensive and bringing peace to Afghanistan.

Achieving peace in Afghanistan would not be possible if the ongoing Taliban-linked violence was not contained, AFP quoted him as opining.

The Turkish president remarked: “The latest developments and the situation of the Afghan public are really troubling.”

Also on Wednesday, Erdoğan expressed his deep concern over escalating violence in Afghanistan and renewed Ankara’s commitment to taking every step for peace and stability.

In a telephonic conversation Ghani, Erdoğan said he was closely monitoring the situation in Afghanistan.

PAN Monitor/mud

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