Taliban representatives visit Tokyo for talks with Japanese officials

TOKYO — Japanese officials said senior Taliban representatives were in the capital for talks, as part of Tokyo's efforts to help Afghanistan build a more inclusive political system and protect human rights.

It's the Taliban's first known diplomatic trip outside the Central Asia-Middle East region since they seized control of Afghanistan in August 2021.

The unidentified representatives were invited by grant-making organization Nippon Zaidan and were also set to talk with Japanese Foreign Ministry officials, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters Monday.

The Taliban were invited to help them better understand the need ''to have a broad perspective toward their future nation building and to widely accept humanitarian assistance from the international community for vulnerable people," Nippon Zaidan said in a statement. It declined to give details of the visitors and their schedule.

Japan does not formally recognize the Taliban as Afghanistan's official government.

Hayashi noted the visit was initiated by a private organization but complements the Japanese government's effort to work with the international community to call on the Taliban to make policy changes that protect human rights.

The Taliban have imposed wide-ranging restrictions on women and girls, a major hurdle to their recognition as the official government of Afghanistan.

The trip was initially revealed by Latif Nazari, the deputy economy minister, who posted on the X platform that ''a high-level delegation'' was heading to Japan and that the Taliban seek dignified engagement with the world as an active member of the international community.

No further details about the trip were available from the Taliban government on Tuesday.