The Taleban authorities say Turkmenistan has agreed to supply power to Taleban-held provinces in western and southwestern Afghanistan.

A Taleban official, Maulvi Abdurahman Zahed, said after visiting Turkmenistan that a protocol would be signed soon.

A Taleban newspaper quoted him as saying that Turkmenistan would supply power to western Herat, southwestern Kandahar and the Helmand provinces.

He said the two countries would also discuss ways of improving the infrastructure in Afghanistan.