ISTANBUL, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan discussed regional developments in a phone conversation with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Saturday, chief among them the situation in Afghanistan.

Ankara can in the future continue to “take the responsibility of maintaining the security” of Kabul’s airport, state-run Anadolu news agency cited Erdogan as saying.

On the developments in Afghanistan, Erdogan hoped for a “smooth transition” in the country, emphasizing that it was important the Taliban do not “repeat their past mistakes.” Any transition in Afghanistan should be all-inclusive, which represents the “diversity of the Afghan people,” Erdogan said, urging the Taliban to “implement their promises.” The two leaders agreed to “strengthen bilateral coordination on the Afghan issue,” Anadolu added, citing a statement by the Kremlin, which stressed the importance of stability and security in that country.

Source: Kuwait News Agency