Answering reporters’ questions following the prayer, Erdoğan, with reference to the developments in Afghanistan, underscored that the Western world and the Islamic world had not shown due diligence to that country.

Stating that neither Russia nor the U.S. had managed to display a healthy stance during their intervention in Afghanistan, Erdoğan said that unlike Russia and the U.S., Turkey had made and still continued to make every effort for the infrastructure and superstructure of Afghanistan.

Asked about Turkey’s role in Afghanistan in the new period, Erdoğan said that for the moment they were closely following the developments there and holding talks with some countries, whose Afghanistan policies they were familiar with, about the issue, and added: “Particularly, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs hold discussions with these countries. In this sense, NATO will hold such a meeting tomorrow, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will have talks there. In addition, as regards talks with the Taliban, we, as I said before when I was asked about this issue, can hold talks with the Taliban if need be. We do not rule out this. There is an ongoing incident, a fact. And if our door is knocked, we will open it and hold our talks. The Afghan people is our Muslim brothers and sisters, and we will obviously not shut the door on them.”