Why is it important for Turkey to operate the Kabul airport?

Kabul airport is Afghanistan's only entrance and exit gate to the outside world, excluding neighboring countries. Although there are border gates with neighboring countries, Afghanistan's connection with the modern world (Europe, America, Africa, Middle East, Far East…etc.) is provided through Kabul airport.

There is still no other international airport in the region. This was before the Taliban. That's what it looks like with the Taliban for now. Therefore, Kabul airport is the heart of Afghanistan. It is enough to look at the Kabul airport to understand the situation of Afghanistan in the international community. Afghanistan's interaction with the outside world is at the same level as the international flights at the airport.

For this reason, operating the Kabul airport is more important than just operating an airport for Afghanistan. Operating an airport is not about providing physical security with the fences there or doing passport procedures. Operating the airport is not the same as operating the cafes and restaurants there, in other words, operating a canteen. Or it is not just deciding when to take off and landing, controlling the runway, or executing tower activities.

When it comes to Kabul airport, operating the Kabul airport is to provide airspace control and management for Afghanistan, where there is no airspace control and management, that is, to be aware of the bird flying in Afghanistan. Observing who is coming to Afghanistan through legal or illegal means, arms trade, humanitarian aid, air strikes from surrounding countries to Afghanistan or air strikes from Afghanistan to surrounding countries and all ground activities (by UAVs or other observation planes) means.

The operation of the airport forms the basis for intelligence activities with the awareness of incoming and outgoing personnel and material. All of this information is strategic information. The element that operates and controls the airport and has this information also has this strategic information for all Afghanistan, Central Asia and South West Asia. The importance of this information for security is undeniable for any country, even in the most remote geography of the world.

Information such as the arrival of terrorists in the country or which countries they go to, who is interviewed for the sale of weapons from the USA in the country, the flow of drug trafficking, immigration and immigration, and which terrorist elements are in contact with whom are very important for Turkey's security.

I have stated many times before that Turkey's security starts from Afghanistan. When such information is available through the airport management, we will have access to the communication of terrorist elements in this region, the influx of terrorists in our region, or the exchange of weapons, which will be a threat to our country.

Let's not forget that some of the perpetrators of the previous terrorist attack in our country (for example, the Reina attack on New Year's Eve) came from these regions. Most of these terrorists came by air, not by land.

Accessing such information at the source before it reaches Turkey and controlling these elements will undoubtedly benefit Turkey's security. On the other hand, having this information will contribute positively to the security of other friendly countries in the region (for example, the Central Asian Turkic Republics) and will enable them to perceive Turkey as a reliable and indispensable partner.

On the other hand, Turkey will be the only country in the region in direct communication with the western world. Turkey will gain a strategic advantage over the West, both through this kind of information and the channel on the West and the Afghan administration over the airport.

This strategic superiority will open new opportunities for Turkey in many geopolitical areas from the Blue Homeland to Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean. It should not be forgotten that the western gate of Central Asia, namely the Caucasus (the Zangezur corridor to be opened will make the job easier) is reached via Turkey. The south gate is Afghanistan. The fact that Turkey is in Afghanistan will also bring Turkey forward at the south gate. The East of Central Asia is already China, and the North is Russia. For this reason, it is not possible for the western world to reach this region from the east and north. The only way has to be through Turkey through the West and South gates. This is a historic opportunity for Turkey geopolitically. This opportunity will open new windows to Turkey not only in the east but also in the west. Because operating the airport will give the operator of the airport a lot of control, from giving slot, that is, landing and take-off permits, to determining the times.