Taliban won Afghan War of Independence like Atatürk did in Turkey: Perinçek

Duvar English

A staunch supporter of the ruling People's Alliance, Patriotic Party (VP) leader Doğu Perinçek said on Aug. 17 that the Taliban had "succeeded" against American imperialism in Afghanistan just like Mustafa Kemal Atatürk did during Turkey's War of Independence that resulted in the formation of the Turkish Republic. 

The Afghan people have been fighting against the United States with the leadership of the Taliban for 20 years, Perinçek said on a joint broadcast of private National Channel and National Radio, adding that the fight resulted in the US' flight from Afghanistan. 

"The Taliban succeeded in Afghanistan's independence war like Mustafa Kemal Pasha did in Turkey. The Taliban organized the public for 20 years and fought the U.S.," Perinçek said. 

The Taliban gave the greatest test of basing their will on the people through this "organization," Perinçek claimed, adding that the military fight led by the Islamist group was more effective than elections in measuring the will of the people.

"Those who trust the U.S. lose, and are wiped from the earth. The U.S. hasn't won any victories in recent times. They lost in Egypt, they failed to take down Bashar Assad in Syria, they couldn't get their way in Iran, they failed to divide Turkey," Perinçek said. 

Known for his pro-China views, Perinçek's support of the Taliban in fact falls in line with the official state rhetoric coming out of Ankara in recent days, as Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said that they welcomed the Taliban's statements.