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OPINION FEBRUARY 28, 2025 | The Indian Eye 10

Taliban Officials Undertake

First Diplomatic Visit to Japan

The Taliban’s diplomatic engagement in the Gulf region, on the other hand, has been marked

by strategic interactions with key states, notably Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Doha has long served as a political hub for the Taliban

DR. ANWESHA GHOSH

n a significant development for
international diplomacy, a del-
Iegation of Taliban leaders from
the interim administration travelled
to Japan for high-level diplomatic
talks on 16 February 2025. This week-
long visit marked one of the most
notable international engagements
by the Taliban regime ever since the
group seized power in Afghanistan in
August 2021. Reportedly, the delega-
tion was led by Latif Nazari, a deputy
minister at the Taliban’s Ministry of
Economy and the discussions focused
on issues, such as humanitarian aid,
economic cooperation and regional
stability, among others. This visit has
sparked interest, particularly because
this trip marks the Taliban delega-
tion’s first diplomatic trip beyond its
neighborhood and the Gulf region.
Notable official international
visits undertaken by the Taliban in
the neighborhood and the Gulf re-
gion includes visit to China in March
2022, to participated in a conference The Taliban was invited by the Nippon Foundation, a Japanese non-profit organization that provides grants and support for humanitarian and
focusing on Afghanistan’s integra- other causes (File photo)
tion into regional economic projects
and security matters.
Subsequently in July of 2022, in a high-profile international event Qatar and the UAE have played engagements.
Taliban’s official delegation made since 2021. This year in January, a pivotal roles in facilitating commu- As far as the Taliban delega-
their maiden trip to Uzbekistan to high-ranking Taliban Judicial dele- nication between the Taliban regime tion’s first official visit to Japan is
discuss trade, energy, and regional gation visited Iran to discuss alterna- and various countries; consequently, concerned, according to reports, the
connectivity projects. The second tives to execution of Afghan citizens the region has hosted several Taliban Taliban was invited by the Nippon
high-level delegation led by Abdul in Iranian prisons. delegations at different points over Foundation, a Japanese non-prof-
Ghani Baradar, the Taliban’s Deputy The Taliban’s diplomatic engage- the past three and a half years. In it organization that provides grants
Minister for Economic Affairs, trav- ment in the Gulf region, on the other January 2025, Acting Foreign Min- and support for humanitarian and
eled to Uzbekistan to strengthen po- hand, has been marked by strategic ister Amir Khan Muttaqi met with other causes. The host organization
litical, economic, trade ties between interactions with key states, notably India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram stated that the purpose of their visit
the two countries very recently. Qatar and the United Arab Emirates Misri in Dubai to discuss bilateral re- was to “seek insights” for future na-
In May 2023, the Taliban’s Act- (UAE). Doha has long served as a lations. Earlier, in August 2024, the tion-building. The Head of the Tali-
ing Foreign Minister, Muttaqi vis- political hub for the Taliban. In 2013, UAE accepted the credentials of a ban delegation Latif Nazari, reflect-
ited Pakistan to enhance bilateral Qatar facilitated the opening of a Taliban-appointed Ambassador. This ing on the visit wrote on X platform
relations, focusing on trade and se- Taliban political office to promote made the UAE the second country, that the interim administration seeks
curity cooperation. In November dialogue between the group, the after China, to do so. It can be safely “dignified interaction with the world
2024, Taliban officials attended the Afghan Republic, and international said that over the last three years the for a strong, united, advanced, pros-
COP29 climate summit in Baku and stakeholders. Taliban has gradually enhanced their perous, developed Afghanistan and
that marked their first participation Since 2021, Gulf countries like international travel for diplomatic Continued on next page... >>

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