KABUL, Afghanistan

Turkey's ambassador to Kabul met separately with Taliban officials, according to the hardline group. 

Taliban spokesman Muhammad Naeem Wardak said in a statement on Twitter that Abdul Salam Hanafi, Taliban’s acting deputy prime minister, met Thursday with Turkish envoy Cihad Erginay.

Ambassador @cerginay had a very constructive meeting with Acting Minister of Energy and Water Mulla Abdul Latif Mansour. Turkish companies remain invested in Afghanistan and we hope to increase such cooperation in the upcoming period for the benefit of the Afghan people. pic.twitter.com/9ceSFCEHSF

— TurkishEmbassyKabul (@turkembkabul) September 24, 2021

It said Hanafi emphasized Turkey's friendly relations with Afghanistan. "We are two friendly and brotherly nations, our relations are deep and go back a long way. We have religious and cultural ties," said the statement. "We want to develop our diplomatic relations with Turkey. Security has been ensured throughout Afghanistan, and we want Turkish investors to invest in various fields in Afghanistan.”

The statement noted that Hanafi expressed that the Taliban wants Turkey to continue cooperation in health, education and humanitarian fields.

The Turkish Embassy in Kabul said Friday that Erginay also had a very constructive meeting with the Taliban's Acting Energy and Water Minister Mullah Abdul Latif Mansoor.

"Turkish companies remain invested in Afghanistan and we hope to increase such cooperation in the upcoming period for the benefit of the Afghan people," it said.

A statement by the Energy and Water Ministry noted that Mansoor underlined the continuation and expansion of good relations and cooperation between Afghanistan and Turkey. 

* Writing by Seda Sevencan​​​​​​​