Afghanistan Times
Related Articles
KABUL – Senior Afghan Taliban officials are in Japan for diplomatic talks with Japanese officials, marking their first known visit outside Central Asia and the Middle East since taking power in 2021. The discussions, facilitated by the grant-making organization Nippon Zaidan, are focused on Afghanistan’s political future, human rights issues, and international humanitarian assistance.
Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi confirmed the visit, stating that while Japan does not officially recognize the Taliban government, it seeks to engage them in dialogue as part of broader international efforts to encourage a more inclusive political system in Afghanistan.
Nippon Zaidan emphasized that the visit aims to help Taliban officials “understand the need for a broad perspective in nation-building” and to encourage them to accept more humanitarian aid for vulnerable populations. Though details of the Taliban delegation and their schedule remain undisclosed, the visit underscores Japan’s ongoing diplomatic engagement with Afghanistan despite the lack of formal recognition.
