This document discusses Turkey's contributions to the Afghan armed forces. It notes that Turkey has provided troops to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan since 2001, with force levels fluctuating between a few hundred and a few thousand. Turkey trained over 17,500 Afghan military officers and soldiers in Afghanistan and an additional 3,500 in Turkey. By April 2008, Turkey had provided over $52 million in aid and materials to the Afghan National Army. Unlike other ISAF countries, Turkish forces gained respect among Afghans by avoiding the use of force and being sensitive to Afghan culture.

1. International Atatürk Alatoo
University
Department of International
Relations
 Subject: Turkey in World Politics
 Lecturer: Ibrahim Koncak
 Done by: Kyzzhibek Sydykova
 IR 5

2. Turkey – Afghanistan
Relations:
What Turkey has
contributed to Afghan
Armed Forces?

3.  Introduction
The Turkish-Afghan relations have always
been friendly and peaceful since the
establishment of this relationship. Diplomatic
relations between Turkey and Afghanistan
first began in 1921. Delegations from the two
countries signed the first Turkey-Afghanistan
Alliance Agreement on 1 March 1921 in
Moscow.

4.  Turkish-Afghan Security Cooperation
In the field of security, Turkey provides
support to Afghanistan both through the ISAF
and within the framework of training and
equipment provided to the Afghan army and
police. The Turkish Parliament authorized the
government to assign the Turkish Armed
Forces to Afghanistan on October 10, 2001.

5.  Turkey provided troops to ISAF
operations, while its force levels
fluctuated between a few hundred and a
few thousand in response to the changes
in its commitment to the operation.
 2001 -267
 2002 -1350
 2003 -1400
 2005 -1600
 2009 -1800

6.  Unlike other soldiers of the ISAF, Turkish
military personnel, who serves by building
close relations with the public, has gained
considerable respect among the Afghan
people. The main reason of success of
Turkish troops is that the probability of
the use of force is quite low. Turkish
military programs and projects are very
sympathetic and acceptable to Afghans
because they are sensitive to the Afghan
traditional and cultural values.

7.  Turkish troops are not engaged in combat
operations. Turkish military has not
engaged in a conflict in Afghanistan and
has no conflict-related casualty up until
now. There is no single criminal record
towards Afghanis in which Turkish soldiers
were involved.

8.  Conclusion
So, as of April 2008, the total sum of the
aid and materials provided for the Afghan
National Army has reached almost 52
million US Dollars. Until now Turkey have
trained 17,500 military officers and
soldiers in Afghanistan and in addition
3500 in Turkey. Turkish military has been
in Afghanistan for 12 years and up to now
30,000 Turkish soldiers served in
Afghanistan.