ANKARA Ñ Turkey continues to express doubts over assuming
responsibility for the international peacekeeping force in Afghanistan amid
rising unrest in the country.
Turkish officials said the government is concerned that the situation in
Afghanistan is likely to become unmanageable given the emerging disputes
between tribal forces in the country. Others concern include the prospect
that Al Qaida insurgents are reorganizing in the country and that Turkey
will not be able to afford troop deployment in Afghanistan.
"To eliminate these concerns, first an Afghanistan national force should
be established," Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said.
Ecevit was speaking on Monday as talks between Britain, Turkey and the
United States on the Afghan peacekeeping force concluded. The prime minister
said the United States has already pledged to finance the deployment of
Turkish troops in Afghanistan.
The United States has approved a $228 million aid package to finance a
peacekeeping force in Afghanistan and help form a new military for the Asian
country. The training is expected to begin by May and calls for up to 150
U.S. Army Special Forces soldiers.
Washington plans to allocate $20 million to maintain an estimated 1,000
Turkish troops in Afghanistan. The Turkish troops would join, among others,
about 5,000 British troops and 500 French troops.
Turkey, however, wants Washington to allocate $50 million for the
Turkish peace force. Officials said the funding issue is the key obstacle to
an agreement by Ankara.
In Washington, U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld confirmed that
Turkey has not yet agreed to assume responsiblity for peacekeepers in
Afghanistan. Rumsfeld said the financing of the peacekeeping force remains
an issue.
"We haven't resolved that," Rumsfeld said. "We're in the process now of
working with the Turkish government and the Brits and some others to try to
help to raise money for the International Security Assistance Force. I would
guess that we'll enter into some sort of an arrangement with Turkey also.
That process hasn't even started."
Turkey is expected to continue discussions over its role in Afghanistan
during the rest of the week. On Wednesday, Afghan interim Prime Minister
Hamid Karzai is expected to arrive in Ankara.
Two days later, Turkey's National Security Council will decide on
whether Ankara will assume responsibility for peacekeeping operations, or
the International Security Assistance Force, in Afghanistan. Western
diplomatic sources said Ankara is expected to agree.
