"Turkey is together the United States, especially in terms of the
military," Erdogan said on Dec. 12. "As for politics, there are also areas
where we cooperate within many different international organizations and
commissions."
There is no final decision yet," Turkish International Cooperation and
Development Agency director Musa Kulaklikaya said. "But in case of dispatch,
they will not join combat operations rather become involved in
reconstruction and training missions."
In an interview with the Turkish daily Hurriyet, Kulaklikaya said Ankara
was considering deploying additional military personnel to Afghanistan in
2010. He said the non-combat troops would form a second provincial
reconstruction team, assigned to improve administration and security.
Turkish soldiers have also been responsible for protecting Western- and
Arab-sponsored development
projects in agriculture, education and health in Afghanistan.
"The consultations are underway between the Turkish Foreign Ministry,
the General Staff, NATO and Afghan authorities," Kulaklikaya said. "I think
the project will be realized before the summer of 2010. An official
announcement will probably be made by the end of December."
Over the last year, Ankara has twice increased the Turkish military
presence as part of the NATO stabilization campaign in Afghanistan. Turkey
has more than 1,700 soldiers in Afghanistan and engages in security
training, education and medical evacuation missions.
Turkey has been operating a provincial reconstruction team in Wardak, 35
kilometers from Kabul. Ankara has asked NATO to take over a Swedish-led team
in the northern province of Jowzjan scheduled to leave Afghanistan in 2010.
Officials said 80 Turkish soldiers were expected to be deployed in Jowzjan.
"Rather than combat troops, we prefer a structure to serve the
development projects in Afghanistan," Kulaklikaya said. "That’s why we have
applied to establish a new PRT [provincial reconstruction team] in Jowzjan."
Turkey has also been providing instruction to Afghan government
personnel in such areas as health and vocational training. Ankara has also
helped establish a hospital in Jowzjan.