Taliban says it seeks good relations, economic cooperation with Turkey

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The Taliban wants to cooperate with Turkey in various fields, including economy, energy and the processing of underground resources, a spokesperson of the group has said.

"As opposed to what is known, we, as the Taliban, have been in close relations with Turkey," Suhail Shaheen told pro-government daily Türkiye in an interview published yesterday (August 20).

"Turkey is a very important player for us. It is both a respectable and powerful country in the world and has a very special place for the Islamic ummah," Shaheen said, adding that Turkey's bond with Afghanistan can't be compared with any other country.

"As the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, we need Turkey's friendship, support and cooperation more than any other country. Afghanistan has rich underground resources but we don't have the power to process them.

"Because of the occupation and marauding rulers, our entire infrastructure collapsed. We want to cooperate with Turkey in the fields of healthcare, education, economy, construction and energy and the processing of underground resources.

"After the internal balance is shaped, we expect our Turkish friends to play an active role in the issues."

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President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has also expressed the government's desire to cooperate with the new administration in Afghanistan.

On August 18, the president said Turkey welcomes "moderate" statements by the Taliban and has been in contact with the group.

While Turkey has had a military presence in the country as part of NATO missions since 2002, it has always taken non-combatant roles and has never been targeted by the Taliban.

Ankara wants to keep its troops in the country to run and protect the Kabul airport but the Taliban, which took over the capital city on August 15, has stated that it would not allow any foreign military presence in the country. (AS/VK)