Relationship dossier
Turkey
Afghanistan
Relationship assessment
A history of Turkish security and reconstruction support, with the scope of post-2021 cooperation uncertain.
Turkey toward Afghanistan
+45Turkey contributed to NATO’s non-combat mission in Afghanistan and supported Afghan security institutions and reconstruction. Turkey has also provided humanitarian assistance and engaged with Afghanistan’s authorities after the 2021 change of government.
Afghanistan toward Turkey
+25Afghanistan and Turkey signed a strategic partnership agreement in 2011. Afghanistan’s governments have also participated in regional diplomatic cooperation involving Turkey; the extent of cooperation under Taliban rule is unclear.
Overall relationship
+35The relationship has included sustained Turkish security, reconstruction and humanitarian engagement, alongside a formal strategic partnership. The 2021 change of government creates uncertainty about the reach and durability of that cooperation, but the history of bilateral engagement supports a generally cooperative assessment.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Turkey has contributed to Afghanistan’s security and reconstruction, including through NATO’s non-combat mission and support for Afghan security institutions, and has provided humanitarian assistance. The two countries also developed a strategic partnership. Afghanistan’s successive governments have cooperated with Turkey, although the effects of the 2021 change of government on bilateral cooperation remain uncertain.
Key developments
Turkey signed a strategic partnership agreement with Afghanistan.
Turkey contributed to NATO’s non-combat mission in Afghanistan and supported Afghan security institutions.
Following the change of government in Afghanistan, Turkey engaged with the new authorities and continued humanitarian assistance.
Major uncertainties
- The scope of Turkish government cooperation with Afghanistan under Taliban rule is unclear.
- The extent to which the 2011 strategic partnership remains operative is uncertain.