A Taliban government delegation arrived in Japan on Monday, marking a rare diplomatic visit outside the region.
The delegation, which left Kabul on Saturday, will spend one week in Japan, according to local media. The visiting team includes officials from the higher education, foreign affairs, and economy ministries.
Taliban’s Goals for the Visit
Latif Nazari, Afghanistan’s Deputy Minister of Economy, stated that the delegation aims for “dignified interaction with the world” to build a strong, united, and prosperous Afghanistan while integrating into the international community.
Diplomatic Relations and Previous Visits
The Taliban government frequently visits Central Asia, Russia, and China, but its official presence in Europe has been limited to diplomatic summits in Norway in 2022 and 2023.
Following the Taliban’s takeover in 2021, Japan’s embassy in Kabul relocated to Qatar. However, diplomatic and humanitarian activities have since resumed in Afghanistan.
Meetings with Japanese Officials
According to Japan’s public broadcaster NHK, the Afghan delegation will meet with Japanese government officials to discuss bilateral relations and economic cooperation.
This visit highlights Afghanistan’s efforts to engage with the global community, despite ongoing international concerns about governance and human rights under Taliban rule.
