Turkey extends its NATO mission in Afghanistan

ANKARA - Anadolu Agency

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Turkish parliament on Jan. 3 approved a motion to extend Turkish Armed Forces troops’ presence in Afghanistan as part of NATO’s support mission. 

The parliament has backed the government’s proposal to extend the troops’ presence in Afghanistan for two more years under NATO mission starting on Jan. 6.

A legislation put into effect on Jan. 1, 2015 allowed the Turkish government to send troops to Afghanistan to support the NATO-led mission Resolute Support. As the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force ended its 13-year combat mission in Afghanistan at the end of 2014, the mission has evolved into training and advising the nascent Afghan security forces. Around 12,000 foreign troops from 28 NATO allies and 14 other partner nations agreed to support the NATO mission in Afghanistan.

The legislation that was passed in 2015 also grants the government authority to permit foreign army personnel to be transported to and from Afghanistan through Turkey.