High-Level Taliban Delegation in Turkey: What They Will Discuss

A high-level delegation from the Taliban has arrived in Turkey for negotiations with Turkish officials. This marks the first meeting between the Taliban and high-ranking officials of the Turkish government since the group took control of Afghanistan.

According to a representative of the Taliban movement, the visiting delegation is led by Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, as reported by AP.

Turkey is working with Qatar to open an airport in the Afghan capital, Kabul, for international flights. However, renovations are required before the resumption of commercial flights. Currently, there are two carriers: Pakistan International Airlines, based in Islamabad, and the Afghan private company Kam Air, which operates charter flights but at high insurance costs.

The Taliban movement has threatened to ban airline flights unless they reduce their costs. A one-way ticket from Kabul to Islamabad on PIA costs about $2,500, compared to $300 before the Taliban came to power in August.

The Ankara visit comes after Taliban leaders held a series of meetings this week in Doha with representatives from the U.S., ten European countries, and the European Union.