Turkey and the Taliban: Algorithms of Interaction

Abstract

The relationship between Turkey and the Taliban* from the late 1990s to date has gone through periods of decline, when Ankara sided with the collective West and the pro-Western governments of Afghanistan, and recovery, when Turks attempted to mediate in the Afghan conflict and then forged links with the new Taliban* government. In light of these circumstances, the author analyzes the long-standing historical ties between Turkey and Afghanistan in the context of the shared Islamic culture of the two peoples. The author notes the Taliban’s accumulated grievances against the Turkish side are noted, including the provision of a forum for the Afghan opposition forces to exchange views as well as Ankara’s demands for the principle of inclusivity in the formation of authorities and respect for human rights in Afghanistan. It is possible that Ankara could become more or less involved in the internal Afghan conflict, which contradicts its own policy of a neutral player in Afghanistan. The author draws attention to the Taliban’s* pragmatic approach to the development of relations with Turkey, especially in the areas of economy and education. The author concludes that, despite some difficulties in its relations with the Taliban government, Ankara is determined to increase its geopolitical influence in the region with a focus on Central Asia and thus tries to enhance its value for its NATO allies. The analysis reveals Turkey’s desire to strengthen its presence in Afghanistan and become an important regional player. However, in the current circumstances, the Turks do not yet have an opportunity to have a serious impact on Kabul. * the organization is banned on the territory of the Russian Federation