KABUL: The Taliban do not want to engage in fighting inside Afghanistan’s cities, a senior insurgent leader said today, as the militant group also warned Turkey against extending its troop presence after US forces complete their withdrawal.

“Now that the fighting from mountains and deserts has reached the doors of the cities, Mujahiddin don’t want fighting inside the city,” Amir Khan Muttaqi said in a message tweeted by a Taliban spokesman.

“It is better… to use any possible channel to get in touch with our invitation and guidance commission, reach a logical agreement to prevent their cities from getting damaged,” said Muttaqi, head of a commission that oversees people surrendering to the group.

In a separate statement issued by the hardline Islamist movement, they said Turkey’s decision to provide security to Kabul airport when US-led forces leave the country was “reprehensible”.

“The decision… is ill-advised, a violation of our sovereignty and territorial integrity and against our national interests,” the group said, days after Turkey agreed with Washington to provide security to protect Kabul airport.