A long-term strategic partnership deal will soon be signed between Afghanistan and Turkey after details were discussed in meetings between the two countries on Wednesday, the presidential palace said in a statement.
President Hamid Karzai met with Turkish Defence Minister Ismet Yilmaz in Kabul Wednesday to discuss the matter and other "issues of mutual interest", said the statement released Wednesday evening.
At the meeting in Karzai's palace, the president described the Afghan-Turk relations as good with historic ties, and thanked Turkey for its assistance. He described the Turkish presence in Afghanistan beyond 2014 as an important one, the statement said.
The two sides discussed the progress towards the long-term strategic partnership and expressed their mutual wish to see it finalised as soon as possible.
According to the statement, Ismet Yilmaz said Turkey is ready to continue its support of the Afghan security forces, assisting with training beyond 2014 as long as Afghanistan demands it.
Yilmaz also expressed that Turkey is prepared to provide any cooperation towards the peace, stability and welfare of Afghanistan.