For the first time since regaining control of Afghanistan in 2021, a Taliban delegation has embarked on a diplomatic visit to Japan. The week-long trip, which began on February 17 includes representatives from the Taliban’s ministries of foreign affairs, education, economy, and health. The Asahi Shimbun newspaper reported on the delegation’s arrival.

The Taliban aims to foster a “dignified interaction” with the global community, according to Latif Nazari, a deputy minister in the Taliban’s economy ministry. He stated on X (formerly Twitter) that the visit is part of their efforts to build a “strong, united, advanced, prosperous, and developed Afghanistan.” He added that the Taliban government wants to make Afghanistan an ‘active’ member of the international community.

The delegation is expected to seek humanitarian aid and explore the possibility of establishing diplomatic ties with Japan.

The Interim Afghan Government is slowly trying to foster links with international governments. Senior leaders from the Taliban government also visited the United Arab Emirates this month.

While the Taliban regularly engages with neighbouring countries like those in Central Asia, Russia, and China, this marks a rare foray outside the region. Previous diplomatic trips to Europe were limited to summits in Norway in 2022 and 2023.

Japan’s embassy in Kabul, temporarily relocated to Qatar following the Taliban takeover, has since reopened and resumed diplomatic and humanitarian activities.

This visit comes shortly after ISIL (ISIS) claimed responsibility for a deadly suicide bombing in Kabul. Japan’s embassy condemned the attack, urging an immediate end to such acts of terror.