Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Deputy Prime Minister of the Taliban’s Economy, traveled to Turkey on August 7th, leading a delegation. This was his first official trip abroad in his current position, with his previous trip being to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on May 16, 2022. During his visit to Abu Dhabi, he offered his condolences on the passing of Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the UAE, although this received little media coverage. However, his trip to Turkey, which was not announced beforehand, garnered significant attention from the media. In light of this, there are several points that can be discussed.
- Turkey is a country in the region that has emerged as a hub for opposition forces against the Taliban. Among all the countries, Ankara has provided refuge to these forces. The Supreme Council of National Resistance for Salvation of Afghanistan (SCNRSA) was formed in Turkey, functioning by issuing statements, conducting virtual meetings, and engaging in visits with officials from other nations. It is worth mentioning that Ankara maintains a relatively positive rapport with the Taliban. The establishment of the Turkish embassy in Kabul and the reception of Taliban diplomats at the Afghan consulate in Istanbul demonstrate a favorable relationship between the two parties.
Earlier, Marshal Abdul Rashid Dostum, a member of the leadership of SCNRSA, expressed in an interview with the American magazine “Rolling Stone” his desire for political support from the United States for the opposition forces against the Taliban. He stated that with the support of the United States, he could effectively counter the Taliban, which has caused concern for the Taliban in multiple ways. Firstly, Dostum has a longstanding alliance with Turkey, and his statements hold significance for the Turkish authorities. Secondly, Dostum has a history of conflict with the Taliban, and his standing in the eyes of the Ankara authorities is unfavorable for the Taliban. Thirdly, Turkey is a NATO member and a US ally. This raises concerns for the Taliban that Dostum’s request may be taken seriously due to Ankara’s insistence. Consequently, it is possible that Mullah Baradar has approached the Ankara authorities with a polite and diplomatic approach, urging them to reconsider their decision to host the opposition forces against the Taliban.
- The reason why Mullah Baradar’s trip to Turkey is questionable is because he is currently on the United Nations blacklist and requires permission from the organization to travel outside of Afghanistan. Mullah Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban Acting Foreign Minister, had previously traveled to Islamabad for a trilateral meeting on May 6th, but he was granted a temporary visa by the UN Sanctions Committee upon Pakistan’s request. However, Mullah Baradar’s trip to Turkey is unclear as he has not received a temporary travel permit from the UN Sanctions Committee. It is also uncertain whether Ankara has extended an invitation to Mullah Baradar or not. The lack of clarity regarding the meeting’s agenda suggests that an invitation may not have been issued. Typically, the host government’s foreign ministry would provide the media with the agenda prior to the joint meeting, but the Turkish Foreign Ministry has not done so. This indicates that Mullah Baradar’s presence in Turkey, despite being presented as significant, may not hold much importance to the authorities of the country.
There is a significant possibility that should not be disregarded. The meeting between the Taliban delegation, headed by Muttaqi, and the American delegation, led by Thomas West, U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan, in Doha at the end of July is presumably connected to Mullah Baradar’s visit to Ankara. One of the primary requests made by the Taliban during the Doha meeting was the removal of certain individuals from the blacklist. It is probable that Mullah Baradar’s trip to Turkey was arranged during the aforementioned meeting, and discreet measures were taken to grant him a temporary travel permit.
- According to reports, it is suggested that Ankara will not be Mullah Baradar’s final destination. Some media sources have shared information indicating that he will be traveling to Saudi Arabia in the near future. If this news is accurate, two important possibilities should be taken into consideration. Firstly, it is possible that the Taliban is once again attempting to gain international recognition, and therefore, his visit to Turkey may have political motives rather than solely aiming to attract investors for Afghanistan. Secondly, it is likely that moderate and pragmatic members of the Taliban have re-emerged with the support of certain countries, and are striving to gain global approval.
Meanwhile, Mullah Baradar is considered a favorable choice. In the past, certain countries have portrayed him as a pro-peace individual and have promoted the narrative that he was unjustly tortured in Pakistani prisons due to his peaceful beliefs. Additionally, Mullah Baradar played a crucial role in facilitating the Taliban’s peace negotiations with the United States. Therefore, the United States’ involvement in this matter cannot be disregarded, as it does not have a favorable relationship with the Haqqani network and mostly supports the faction led by Mullah Baradar.
- Another point that raises questions is the meeting between Mullah Baradar and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. It is worth considering that Fidan met with a Taliban figure who was not officially invited. Additionally, Fidan’s personality type is such that he tends to avoid direct meetings and instead prefers to make appearances in the media. Recently, the BBC even ran a headline about him: “Hakan Fidan, the foreign minister who remains silent”. Furthermore, it is crucial to note that Fidan has a long history of working in the intelligence agency, which is a significant factor in this field.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey’s Twitter page only posted a picture of the meeting between Fidan and Mullah Baradar, without providing any information about the topics discussed. This raises the possibility that the relationship between Iran and the Taliban has become strained recently. It appears that the Taliban may be seeking to strengthen their ties with Turkey and Central Asia instead of Iran. This can be seen in their repeated rejection of fuel imports from Iran, claiming it is of poor quality, and their attempts to import fuel from Russia and Central Asian countries. Turkey, which does not have a stable relationship with Iran, welcomes this tension between the Taliban and Iran. The Lapis lazuli project is a crucial factor in this situation, as Iran is particularly sensitive to its progress.
- The Lapis Lazuli Road is a significant undertaking that links Afghanistan to Turkey by passing through Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and the Black Sea, ultimately reaching the Mediterranean Sea and Europe. It is worth noting that Iran offers a shorter and less expensive route compared to Turkey. The agreement for the Lapis Lazuli Road was signed on November 15, 2017, in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan, by officials from the aforementioned countries. The Taliban’s efforts to revive the Trans-Afghan railway and other major projects connecting Central Asia to Pakistan and India support this idea. However, it remains unclear whether the Moreover, Turkey had previously been involved in mining activities, including gas extraction in Jawzjan Province. However, with the resurgence of the Taliban, China has taken over Turkey’s role. Ankara has expressed its intention to resume mining operations and has communicated this to the Taliban.
The primary purpose of Mullah Baradar’s visit to Turkey is to engage with business professionals and discuss potential investments in Afghanistan. During his trip, he held meetings with Nail Olpak, the head of the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey (DEİK), as well as Afghan businesspeople and entrepreneurs residing in Turkey. Mullah Baradar urged these individuals to consider investing in Afghanistan, emphasizing that the current investment climate is highly favorable. DEİK, a non-governmental organization specializing in trade, has made investments in various sectors across numerous countries worldwide. Gaining the support of this institution would be advantageous for the Taliban. Given Baradar’s role as the economic deputy of the Taliban prime minister, it appears that he is committed to fulfilling his responsibilities in this regard.
The Taliban are strongly committed to resuming and consistently launching projects, aiming to win over public opinion through these actions. Previously, Baradar criticized the international community, claiming that foreign entities had unfairly portrayed Afghanistan’s economic situation, and that if they ceased such actions, the situation would improve. The Taliban group is eager to bring back businesspeople, although their claims of providing adequate security are misleading. This makes it challenging for businesspeople who have fled Afghanistan to consider investing in the country.
Read this article in Farsi here.
