Islam Times - Erdogan Says Turkey Ready to Cooperate with Taliban

Islam Times - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Ankara is willing to cooperate with the Taliban after the radical movement seized power in Afghanistan.

"We are ready for all kinds of cooperation to preserve peace for the Afghan people, [ensure] safety for Turkish nationals living in this country and protect interests of our state," Anadolu Agency quoted him as saying.

After the main part of the Western military contingent was pulled out of the country, the Taliban launched a large-scale offensive to establish control over the country.

On August 15, Taliban militants entered Kabul without a fight and took over the city in a matter of hours.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani stepped down to avoid bloodshed, as he put it, and fled the country. Western states are currently evacuating their citizens and embassy staffers.