Japanese Ambassador to Afghanistan Meets Taliban Official

Japanese Ambassador to Afghanistan Takashi Okada held talks with Abdul Ghani Baradar, a senior official of an interim government in Afghanistan named by the Islamist group Taliban, in the Afghan capital of Kabul, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said Thursday.

Okada sought the Taliban’s cooperation to ensure the safety of Japanese nationals and local staff members who worked with Japanese people in Afghanistan and evacuate those willing to leave the country. The Taliban side showed understanding over the request.

The Japanese ambassador also called on the Taliban to respect the human rights of women and ethnic minorities and sought the establishment of an inclusive political system.

The Japanese embassy in Afghanistan was moved to Doha, Qatar, after the Taliban seized Kabul in August this year.

Okada visited Kabul for four days through Wednesday.