Turkey president on need for Afghanistan stability

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday said it was of "great importance" that the international community acted in the best interest of Afghanistan's people.

He stressed the importance of eliminating the power vacuum and the reinforcement of security to enable a normalization of life. Erdogan added that recent statements by the Taliban should be approached "with cautious optimism". Speaking in Bitlis in eastern Turkey, he said Afghanistan needed a government that was "expansive and inclusive" and reflected all sectors of society.

A stable Afghanistan was vital to avoid "new dramas" on Turkey's western borders, the president continued. Turkey and the European Union desperately want to avoid a large-scale influx of refugees and migrants from Afghanistan.