The Kabul Tribune (KT) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told world leaders at the U.N. General Assembly that his government expects Afghanistan’s rulers to pursue a path that respects society and human values, and he urged the international community not to abandon Afghans at a time of crisis.
“In Afghanistan, our fundamental desire is that the current administration demonstrate an approach that embraces the society and that takes human values into consideration,” Erdogan said. “In this process, it is essential that the international community does not leave Afghan people alone. The Turkish nation will stand by the Afghan people at all times.”
Erdogan’s remarks come as Afghanistan faces mounting humanitarian needs and growing isolation under Taliban rule. Since seizing power in 2021, the Taliban have imposed sweeping restrictions on women and girls, barring them from secondary schools, universities, most jobs, and public spaces. Human rights groups say the Taliban have also silenced independent media, curtailed free expression, and arbitrarily detained critics.
U.N. agencies estimate that more than half of Afghanistan’s 40 million people require humanitarian aid, while foreign assistance has sharply declined since the Taliban takeover. Erdogan said global actors must support ordinary Afghans, warning that instability in the country could spill across borders.
