Turkey, Ankara (AP) —Turkish and U.S. military officials met in the Turkish capital on Thursday to discuss plans for Turkish troops to continue to secure an airport in Kabul after the U.S. and other NATO troops withdraw from Afghanistan. ..

Turkey, NATO’s only majority Muslim member, has offered to protect and operate Kabul International Airport, the main gateway to Afghanistan, after the alliance withdraws abroad. However, with about 500 non-combatants in Afghanistan, the country is seeking support for the missions of the United States and other allies.

After meeting with US President Joe Biden at the NATO summit last week, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan provided “diplomatic, logistical and financial support” from the United States to protect and operate the airport. He said he was looking for it. Turkey also wanted Pakistan and Hungary to be involved in the mission, he said.

Defense Minister Furushi Akar said a technical delegation from the United States had arrived for talks.

“If the requirements are met, we will take over the responsibility for operating Hamid Karzai International Airport, which we have been doing for the past six years,” Akar said Thursday. “The debate on this issue continues. No decision has been reached so far.”

Akar said: “We want to achieve the best results for the benefit of our country and the interests of Afghanistan. That is what we are working on. Our aim is the brothers of Afghanistan. To continue working for the sake of security, peace and welfare. “

Critics see Turkey’s offer to operate the airport as part of Erdogan’s government’s efforts to repair relations with the United States that have been exacerbated by a series of disagreements. They are focused on Turkey’s purchase of Russian weapons and US support for Syrian Kurdish fighters, and Ankara states that it is related to the Kurdish rebellion in Turkey. They question the safety of Turkish non-combatants there.

“Mr. Erdogan, anyone who has driven Afghanistan into this situation will get the debris,” opposition leader Nationalist Meral Accener said in parliament Wednesday.

“Don’t be too keen on sacrificing your soldiers to save the lives of American soldiers,” she said.

The remaining approximately 2,300 to 3,500 US troops and approximately 7,000 alliance NATO troops are expected to leave Afghanistan by September 11 and end their military involvement for nearly 20 years. There is concern that the Afghan government and its security forces may not be ready to withdraw, which could disrupt the country.

The Taliban dominated Afghanistan after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States until they were expelled by a US-led coalition. In recent weeks, Taliban fighters have conquered several areas in southern and northern Afghanistan and persuaded government security forces to surrender and seize weapons and military vehicles.