A lasting friendship

Salahuddin Rabbani

Ninety years ago, Afghanistan and Turkey signed a treaty of friendship, on March 1, 1921. Two years before the establishment of the Republic of Turkey, the Ottoman officials and the representatives of the Afghan government signed the friendship treaty. Two years later in 1923, Afghanistan was one of the first countries to recognize the Republic of Turkey. With the establishment of the Turkish Republic, the cordial relations that existed between the two brotherly countries further strengthened and entered into a new phase of intense cooperation.

The two countries have always been very close friends. As a true friend, Turkey has always been ready to assist Afghanistan. Turkey’s constructive involvement in Afghanistan is not a recent phenomenon. In the 1920s, when Afghanistan embarked on building a modern National Army, it sought Turkish assistance in building its military institution. The role played by the Turkish officers in building the Afghan Army will always remain as an important part of our history. Turkey’s role, however, was not limited to building our military institutions. Health and education were the other important areas where Turkey played a crucial role.

Nine decades later, as Afghanistan emerges from decades of war and conflict, it once again finds Turkey standing by the Afghans and ready to help them in these challenging times. Today, Turkish soldiers, as part of the International Security Assistance Force, or ISAF, are working with their Afghan counterparts to maintain peace and security and create an environment where Afghan citizens can go to work, send their children to schools and live in peace in their homes.

As in the past, the Turkish participation in Afghanistan is not limited to training our security personnel only. Today, the Turkish teachers, engineers and doctors are busy helping their Afghan brothers and sisters. Turkey is providing training to Afghan doctors, and stands ready to provide assistance to modernize some of the Afghan hospitals it built decades ago. Turkey is also providing scholarships to hundreds of Afghans students in order to pursue their higher education in Turkey.

Turkey’s assistance in primary and secondary education is commendable. There are nine Turkish schools in different parts of Afghanistan, offering quality education to the Afghan children. Because of the high standard of education provided in these schools, they are very popular throughout the country. Students graduating from the Turkish schools are the most successful students who are easily accepted in some of the best national and international universities.

Afghans see Turkey as a trusted friend that could play an important role in the ongoing peace process in the country. Just last week a high-level delegation of the High Peace Council visited Turkey as part of its efforts to discuss this Afghan-led process with the Turkish leadership. Afghanistan attaches great importance to the Turkish role and appreciates Turkey’s readiness in working with the Afghans to promote close cooperation with regional countries and the international community in order to ensure success of the peace process.

Let me conclude by saying that we see Turkey as a great friend that has always been there with us. We cherish our relations and are proud of our friendship with Turkey.

* Salahuddin Rabbani is ambassador of Afghanistan to Turkey

Published on Hurriyet Daily News, 1 March 2011