Japan calls for ‘direct’ engagement with Islamic Emirate at G7 meeting

 

Japan’s top diplomat was discussing Afghanistan and Central Asia for around an hour with his colleagues from the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and the US, plus the EU.

 

Hayashi called for continuing assistance to the people of Afghanistan in cooperation with the international community.

 

Expressing “serious concern” over the “worsening” human rights and humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, Hayashi also condemned the recent decision by the IEA that “suppress human rights, including increased restrictions on women’s rights.”

 

Tokyo’s comments came after the UN said it was being forced to make an “appalling choice” about its presence in Afghanistan as the IEA administration banned women from working for the organization.

 

The IEA officials meanwhile have said the ban on women working in Afghanistan was an “internal issue” of the country.

 

Japan is the current chair of G-7, and a bullet train took an hour to bring the foreign ministers of the world’s seven advanced nations to the resort town of Karuizawa in central Japan on Sunday, for a three-day summit until Tuesday.