Japan called on the Taliban government to uphold human rights during a rare diplomatic meeting with a senior member of an Afghan delegation visiting Tokyo. The meeting, held on Tuesday, marked the first visit by Taliban officials to Japan since their 2021 takeover of Afghanistan.
Toshihide Ando, head of the Japanese Foreign Ministry’s Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau, met with a high-ranking Taliban delegate and emphasized the need for the Taliban to respect human rights and promote an inclusive political process. The delegation was invited by the Nippon Foundation, a Tokyo-based non-profit, for a week-long visit.
Since seizing power, the Taliban has imposed strict Islamic laws, including public floggings, executions, and severe restrictions on women’s rights, which the United Nations has termed “gender apartheid.”
The Taliban official’s identity was not disclosed, but Afghan media reported that the delegation includes officials overseeing higher education and foreign affairs. The Taliban has regularly engaged with neighboring and regional countries, including Central Asia, Russia, and China, but has only officially visited Europe for diplomatic summits in Norway in 2022 and 2023.
