An online conference on "US-Russia-China trio and Afghanistan - Global Competitiveness" has been held on May 16 at the initiative and organisation of the Ankara Center for Crisis and Policy Researches. Turkish military experts and political scientists have been invited to the webinar. Retired Lieutenant General Ismail Hakki Pekin, as well as another retired colonel of the National Intelligence Organisation (MIT), Joshgun Basbug, have been among the special guests at the conference, which has been chaired by the Professor from ANCASAM Dr. Senjer Imer. Participants have answered a number of questions at the conference that has been attended by more than 60 international media representatives. As one of the international media organisations, Eurasia Diary has also been invited to attend the online conference.
Opening the conference, Professor Senjer Imer gave the first speech to the former Lieutenant General Ismail Hakki Pekin. He first spoke about the events in Afghanistan, and then about the activities of US forces there to date. Later, the Turkish general discussed the main reasons behind the events in Afghanistan.
According to him, Afghanistan may produce and supply coal, iron, copper, lead, zinc, chromium, marble, etc. in the world. Many power states still have their eyes on it, as it has the richest over and underground resources. He added that even the latest explorations show that Afghanistan has very rich natural gas fields.
"There are many reasons why Afghanistan has not yet been able to form a state," he said. Of course, domestic political forces also play a key role here. However, another reason for this is external influence, especially in the United States. The United States has ruled Afghanistan since the Bush administration and has so far failed to make peace in Afghanistan. Of course, the concept of peace is a completely foreign issue for the United States. That is why tribal government or community structure still reigns in Afghanistan,” he said.
The representative of ANKASAM, Professor Dr. Senjer Imer also spoke about the future role of Turkey in Afghanistan. He noted that some powers are deeply concerned about the expansion of Turkey's influence in the Middle East and Central Asia, as well as in the South Caucasus, and are extremely jealous of it.
"Turkey has always wanted the people of Afghanistan to benefit from their natural resources as an independent state. Like Iran, Pakistan, Russia and China, Afghanistan has great treasures in its territory. But, unfortunately, as a result of the intervention of many states, it has been impossible for the local people to benefit from this. I had a student from Afghanistan. In one of my lectures, she told me about two adjacent mountains in her country. One of the mountains was rich in iron ore, and the other was rich in coal. Imagine two great blessings together. Metal and coal from this mountain alone can provide half of Afghanistan's economy. I am a professor in physics and chemistry and have continued my research in this field. After receiving the results of the study, I contacted officials from Afghanistan and presented my research and projects to them. Talking to them, I told them to invite experts from South Korea, Japan, Germany or the United States to implement this project, even without the participation of Turkey. Exactly 8 years have passed since my last meeting with them, but there are still no results. I think if these natural resources are not realised or appreciated by themselves or by specialists brought from abroad, then it is time for Turkey to be there. "We go to a place, not to exploit like other countries, but to improve the well-being of the people," he said.
Former Colonel of the Turkish National Intelligence Organisation Cosgun Basbug also commented on the event. He spoke about Turkey's latest successful policy, which includes Afghanistan. According to him, the restoration of stability and peace in the region begins with the blocking of the US in Asia and the Middle East.
"We must unite closely for this. Iran, Russia, China, Pakistan and even India, which has a lukewarm relationship with Pakistan, should be involved in the Belt and Road Initiative that is part of the China's Silk Road Economic Belt. Pakistan in many terms is very close to us, but it is not enough. I even think that Pakistan and India should be supported to improve and develop relations in a positive direction. "If Russia and Iran benefit from such projects, I think the United States will not be able to intervene in the region again," he said.
At the end of the event, Dr. Senjer Imer noted that Turkey will be more determined from now on. According to him, Afghanistan has become a hotbed of drug trafficking and other illegal activities in the region: “Almost all young people in Afghanistan have become victims of drugs. People are deliberately addicted to it, and the direction of all this is again controlled by the United States, which has been hegemonic behind the curtain of peace in the region for many years. In that case, would the United States want Afghanistan to become a stronger state? I think it's time to say "stop" to this".
By Elnur Enveroglu
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