Turkey had already been supporting the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) with around 800 non-combat troops in Afghanistan. The Turkish troops were last in charge of the rotating leadership of the Kabul Regional Command between April and December of 2007. The Kabul Regional Command was created in the summer of 2006 under the joint leadership of Turkey, France and Italy as part of ISAF in Afghanistan.
The number of non-combat Turkish troops at the Kabul Regional Command has gradually been increased to 1,600 due to assumption of the rotating leadership. Turkey has constantly voiced its determination to refrain from sending any combat troops to Afghanistan.
Earlier this month, Afghanistan was among a range of regional issues that were discussed during a telephone conversation between Turkish President Abdullah Gül and US President Barack Obama. The issue will also be an item on the agenda of upcoming talks between Obama and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan when the Turkish leader pays a working visit to Washington on Dec. 7.
