Turkish ambassador to Afghanistan Oguzhan Ertugrul on Saturday said at a gathering in Kabul that talks are ongoing regarding the return of Afghanistan’s First Vice President Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum.
Ertugrul made the remarks at a gathering at the Turkish embassy in Kabul that marked the anniversary of the failed military coup against the Turkish government in 2016.
Ertugrul said he was closely following the recent demonstrations in the northern parts of the country adding that change will take place in this respect once Dostum returns to Afghanistan.
The ambassador did not however respond to a question by a reporter on whether Turkey wants Dostum to return to Afghanistan or not. Instead he said Turkey has continuously advocated for Dostum’s return.
“I do not feel it necessary to respond to the question about whether Turkey wants Dostum to return or not. Talks are ongoing in this regard and we hope progress will made in the near future,” said Ertugrul.
His remarks come soon after Second Vice President Mohammad Sarwar Danish left for Turkey where he held talks with Dostum. Danish is still in Turkey.
In the meantime, supporters of the Islamic National Movement of Afghanistan, Dostum’s party, have been protesting continuously over the past two weeks in the north and north eastern parts of the country over the arrest of Nizamuddin Qaisari, one of his close aides and police chief of Qaisar district in Faryab.
Protestors have also called for Dostum’s return.
Protesters have so far closed the Independent Election Commission’s (IEC’s) provincial offices in a few provinces and have warned they will boycott elections if Dostum fails to return.
“This is not the way to pull Dostum aside. If you (government) want to remove one Dostum, there are thousands of other Dostums. If you remove one Turk, there are thousands of Turks,” Abdul Sattar Darzabi, an MP said.
Other commentators have also called for his return.
Baz Mohamamd Rahimi, a university lecturer said: “(Government) should let Dostum return and then treat him based on the provision of the law. Today we hear from Dostum’s supporters that the president steps on the law in Dostum’s case.”
Dostum left Afghanistan for Turkey last year after allegations of sexual assault were lodged against him by Ahmad Eschi, the former Jawzjan governor and ex-member of the National Islamic Movement of Afghanistan.
Dostum’s close aides say that government has prevented him from returning to the country. However, following rising tension in Faryab over the Qaisari issue and continued demonstrations in the north, sources say government is now talking to Dostum and they say he might return home soon.