Turkey can play active role in restoring Afghanistan: Taliban official

Turkey can play "an active role in investing, realizing some projects, renovating and restoring Afghanistan," with the resources it possesses, according to that country's acting foreign minister.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Amir Khan Muttaqi said the official recognition of his government and international aid held great importance to the recovery of the country's economy.

Muttaqi led a Taliban delegation on an official visit to Turkey on Thursday to discuss bilateral issues and cooperation on the future of Afghanistan.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Çavuşoğlu and Muttaqi had a meeting where they discussed issues related to the official recognition of the Taliban and assets belonging to Afghanistan that were blocked by the U.S..

Muttaqi said the freezing of reserves by the U.S. after the Taliban's takeover, violated international law and human rights.

He stressed money blocked by the U.S. was sent from other states for the development of Afghanistan.

"The real question is, why was this money blocked? What did the citizens of Afghanistan do?" he asked rhetorically.

"On the other hand, the U.S. and other countries say that humanitarian aid should be given to Afghanistan and human rights should be respected. But, they leave the Afghan people with a population of about 40 million without basic necessities."

Muttaqi said these issues were brought to the forefront by Turkish authorities at the news conference on Wednesday.

Recognition of new government

"As we have said in our meetings in recent days, in meetings with the U.S. and European Union delegations in Doha, and in our meetings in Turkey, such states have been established in the world, some of which have been achieved by force...