TOKYO — Japanese authorities have confirmed that high-ranking officials from the Afghan Taliban are visiting Japan for discussions aimed at fostering a more inclusive political environment in Afghanistan and safeguarding human rights.
This marks the first time since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021 that such senior representatives have traveled outside the Central Asia-Middle East region for diplomatic purposes.

The unidentified Taliban representatives were extended an invitation by the philanthropic organization Nippon Zaidan, as they also engaged in meetings with officials from Japan’s Foreign Ministry, as stated by Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi during a press conference on Monday.

The purpose of the Taliban’s invitation was to enhance their understanding of the importance of adopting a broad outlook regarding future nation-building and to encourage them to embrace humanitarian assistance from the global community for those in need, according to a statement from Nippon Zaidan. However, the organization refrained from providing any further details about the attendees or their agenda.

It’s important to note that Japan has not officially recognized the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan.
Hayashi mentioned that while this visit originated with a private entity, it aligns with the efforts of the Japanese government to engage with the international community in urging the Taliban to implement policies that promote and protect human rights.

One of the significant barriers to the Taliban achieving recognition as the official governing body of Afghanistan is their stringent restrictions on women and girls.
The news of the Taliban’s trip was first announced by Latif Nazari, the deputy economy minister for the Taliban, who shared on the social media platform X that a “high-level delegation” was en route to Japan. He expressed the Taliban’s desire for constructive engagement with the global community as they seek to position themselves as responsible members of it.