Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban’s acting Foreign Minister, and Hakan Fidan, Turkey’s Foreign Minister, held talks on the sidelines of the 51st Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Istanbul.
During the meeting, the two officials discussed bilateral relations and the regional situation.
According to Bakhtar News Agency, both officials emphasized the importance of relations between Turkey and Afghanistan and called for their expansion.
Mr. Muttaqi described Turkey as having a “special and strategic place in the foreign policy of the Islamic Emirate” and called for expanded bilateral cooperation.
Despite the fact that the Taliban government has not been officially recognized by any country nearly four years after taking power, Turkey remains among the few countries that have maintained close relations with the Taliban.
Meanwhile, several former Afghan leaders and officials have sought refuge in Turkey since the Taliban’s return to power.
