The U.S. request to Turkey was relayed on Dec. 3, hours after President
Barack Obama announced the deployment of another 30,000 troops in
Afghanistan.
Later, Obama asked NATO allies to contribute at least another 10,000
soldiers.
Turkey, with the second largest military in NATO, has refused to perform
combat duties in Afghanistan. Some of the Turkish troops, however,
participate in patrols of the Afghan capital of Kabul.
"For the moment, we have done what we had to do [in Afghanistan],"
Erdogan told a news conference in Istanbul on Dec. 6. "Our contingent of
soldiers is at a useful number. If you ask what we can do beyond that, we
can provide training there for the Afghan security forces, which so far
we've been doing in our country."
On Dec. 6, Erdogan said Turkey has invested $150 million in education,
health and infrastructure in Afghanistan. He said Ankara would contribute
another $50 million amid the NATO surge.
"Our armed forces that have assumed command for the third time are in a
position to preserve and continue the association and tolerance between
themselves and the Afghan people," Erdogan said. "In order to achieve this,
we will keep the promises we have made."
