A senior representative of a Taliban opposition group expressed disappointment Wednesday that a high-ranking Japanese foreign minist

Japanese officials say senior Afghan Taliban officials are in Japan for talks, as part of Tokyo’s efforts to help Afghanistan build a more inclusive political system and protect human rights.

A delegation of senior Taliban officials arrived on Feb. 16 for the first visit to Japan by the Islamic group since it effectively recaptured control of Afghanistan in August 2021.

According to Japanese government sources, the Nippon Foundation, a public interest incorporated foundation in Tokyo, invited the Taliban officials to Japan.

A Taliban government delegation was visiting Japan for the first time on Monday, in a rare diplomatic visit outside of the region. The Afghan delegation left Kabul on Saturday, in a visit that local media said would last one week and included officials from the higher education,

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- High-level Taliban officials have arrived in Japan, their hosts Japanese grant-making organization Nippon Foundation said Monday, making it the first known visit by the Taliban since their takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021.

A senior Foreign Ministry official called on visiting Taliban representatives to respect human rights and promote democratic political process, a ministry spokesperson said.