Turkey to Assume Control of Kabul International Airport with $130 Million NATO Agreement

Turkey has agreed to establish control over Kabul International Airport after the NATO troop withdrawal in September, signing a $130 million contract with NATO, reports The National. This news comes amidst uncertainty regarding the future of Hamid Karzai International Airport.

U.S. President Joe Biden has set a deadline for the withdrawal of NATO forces by September 11. It is known that Afghanistan has been unable to manage this sector independently over the years.

Mahmood Shah Habibi, head of Afghanistan's Aviation Support Association, believes that the news of Turkey taking responsibility for Kabul Airport will somewhat alleviate existing fears.

On May 21, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg issued a statement that the alliance plans to continue financial support for the operation of the Kabul airport.

It is known that Turkish troops have been stationed in Afghanistan under NATO’s mission since 2003, but they do not participate in combat operations. Without rejecting Washington's request for peace talks between the Taliban and the government in Kabul, Ankara has taken on a more active diplomatic role in the conflict since the beginning of this year.