On Saturday, the first contingent of Turkish troops arrived in the Afghan capital to join the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) tasked with maintaining security in Kabul.
An estimated 50 troops arrived at the Kabul airport. The rest of its pledged 260-strong contingent is expected to arrive in the next few days. Turkish press reports said Turkey would complete its deployment within a period of five days.
Turkey has signaled a willingness to head the 17-nation ISAF force after fellow NATO member Britain's three-month command is over.
The peacekeeping force supports the interim government in Kabul after U.S.-aided opposition forces toppled the ruling Taliban.
Ankara, eager to have a say in the future of Afghanistan with which it shares historic and ethnic relations, has offered Kabul assistance and training to help form a national army and police force.
Turkish troops have years of experience fighting Kurdish rebels in the country's mountainous southeast. They have also operated in Somalia and the Balkans. Ankara also hopes its firms can secure contracts for the reconstruction of roads and other infrastructure in the war-torn country. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
