Afghanistan’s Taliban govt makes first diplomatic trip to Japan

Latif Nazari, part of the Taliban delegation, highlights Afghanistan’s goal for global engagement.

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A Taliban delegation arrived in Japan on Sunday, marking the first time that the rulers of Afghanistan have made a diplomatic trip outside the region since regaining control of the country in 2021.

The delegation, which includes officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Higher Education, Ministry of Economy, and Ministry of Health, is expected to stay in Japan for a week.

This rare trip comes as part of the Taliban’s efforts to engage with the global community and build diplomatic ties.

While the Taliban has frequently made visits to neighbouring countries such as China, Russia, and nations in Central Asia, its diplomatic outreach to countries outside the region has been limited. The group has only made formal visits to Europe for diplomacy summits in Norway in 2022 and 2023.

Latif Nazari, the Deputy Minister at Afghanistan's Ministry of Economy, shared the delegation's objectives in a tweet, stating that the visit was part of the group’s goal to foster "dignified interaction with the world" and to establish Afghanistan as a "strong, united, advanced, prosperous, and developed" nation. He further added that the Taliban aims to become an active member of the international community.

The Afghan delegation plans to exchange views with Japanese government officials during their visit. They are also expected to discuss potential diplomatic relations and seek humanitarian support, according to Japan's public broadcaster NHK.

Japan's embassy in Kabul had temporarily relocated to Qatar after the Taliban's takeover in 2021. However, the embassy has since reopened and resumed diplomatic and humanitarian activities in Afghanistan.

The Taliban’s visit to Japan comes just days after a deadly suicide bombing in Kabul, for which Daesh claimed responsibility. The attack took place outside the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing and has been part of a growing series of security challenges in the country. Japan's embassy in Kabul condemned the attack, calling for an immediate halt to such acts of terrorism.

This diplomatic trip to Japan is seen as an important step in the Taliban’s efforts to gain international recognition and secure support as it works to rebuild Afghanistan.