Ankara, 25 June 2021 (Anadolu News)

Turkish and US delegations discussed areas of cooperation to run Afghanistan’s Kabul airport, the Turkish National Defense Ministry said on Friday.

“During the meeting, areas of cooperation to operate Hamid Karzai International Airport following the termination of NATO Resolute Support Mission were discussed,” it said on Twitter, adding that the delegations had met at the ministry.

“Both parties agreed to continue discussions,” it said.

A delegation — consisting of the Pentagon and Department of State officials — from the US arrived in Ankara on Thursday to discuss progress on efforts to keep Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul operational.

The situation in Afghanistan has gained importance in recent weeks after US President Joe Biden announced that all American forces will withdraw from the war-torn country by Sept. 11, with NATO allies to follow suit.

Biden and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed the issue at a recent NATO leaders summit in Brussels.

Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said on Wednesday Turkey had a military presence in Afghanistan working under NATO’s Resolute Support Mission to guard the airport for six years, adding that details of the plan were still being discussed.

Turkey will not send additional troops to Afghanistan as part of a plan to run and secure Kabul’s airport following the US and NATO pullout from the country, TRT reported two days before.