Japan will not recognize the Taliban as Afghanistan's new government for the time being, according to Japanese government sources.
Tokyo has deemed it necessary to wait and see what actions are taken by the Taliban and how Western countries will react, the sources said.
The Taliban drew international condemnation for their ban on the education of women and for the public execution of Afghan citizens, until they were ousted from power by the United States in 2001. Japan did not recognize the Taliban as the government of Afghanistan at that time.
"If the Taliban repeatedly violate human rights as they did in the past, Japan will not able to recognize them as the Afghan government," a senior official of the Foreign Ministry said.
However, there is strong opinion that Japan should continue its support for Afghanistan even after the withdrawal of U.S. forces.
From 2001 onward, the Japanese government supported Afghanistan's reconstruction and democratization in a wide range of areas, including the removal of landmines, the reintegration of former Taliban soldiers into society, and the construction of hospitals and schools.
Japan is said to have provided about 700 billion yen in aid over the past 20 years.
To continue such support, Japan would have to recognize the new Afghan government.
Japan's Foreign Ministry announced that all 12 staff members remaining at the embassy in Kabul had been safely evacuated to Dubai. The embassy will be closed for the time being.
As Japanese nationals working for international organizations are still in Afghanistan, the government will open a temporary office in Turkey to assist them.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
