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Japan-Afghanistan Relations

February 2011

Basic Data

Diplomatic Relations:

Established in 1931. After the Soviet invasion in 1979, Japan hadn't given diplomatic recognition to any groups. In February, 2002, however, to follow up on the International Conference on Reconstruction Assistance to Afghanistan and to contribute to the peace and reconstruction process of the country, the Embassy of Japan in Afghanistan was reopened.

Number of Residents:

Number of Japanese Nationals residing in Afghan: 0 (as of October 2000)

Number of Afghan Nationals residing in Japan: 217 (as of December 1997)

Trade with Japan (in Japanese Yen) (1999):

Exports: 91 million yen

Imports: 7.6 million yen

Direct Investment from Japan:

None

Japan's Economic Cooperation:

Since 1980, Japan has not extended economic assistance except for the following emergency assistance (through International Organizations)

Why Japan Assists Afghanistan

• Japan's Assistance in Afghanistan [PDF]
• Implementation status of Japan's Assistance Package to Afghanistan
• Japan Has Implemented Approximately USD 1.6 billion of Assistance

List of Exchange of Notes

• Loans: 720 million yen
• Grant Aid: 6.19 billion yen
• Technical Cooperation: 2.296 billion yen, Trainees Accepted 437 persons, Experts Dispatched 121 persons

Japan's Contribution to Afghanistan - Working on the frontline in the war on terrorism (Pamphlet) (March 2007)

• English [PDF]
• Japanese
• Dari [PDF]

For the details of emergency assistance, please see Campaign Against Terrorism - Japan's Measures.

Visits

From Japan to Afghanistan

Year	Name
1971.6	Their Imperial Highnesses Crown Prince and Princess (presently Emperor and Empress)
2002.4	Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi

From Afghanistan to Japan

Year	Name
1997. 8	Minister for Public Health (Taliban Side), Mr. Mohammad Abbas Akhund
1999. 1	Minister for Public Health (Taliban Side), Mr. Mohammad Abbas Akhund
1999. 1	Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs (Northern Alliance side), Mr. A. Abdullah
2000. 3	Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs (Taliban Side), Mr. Abdul Rahman Zahid
	Field Commander (Northern Alliance Side), Mr. Sayed Hussain Anwari
2003. 2	President of the Transitional Administration of Afghanistan, Mr. Hamid Karzai

Cultural Grant (cumulative total fiscal 1975-2004)

13.5 million yen (Grant Assistance for Cultural Grassroots Projects)

Recent Trends in Bilateral Relations

Established in 1931. After the Soviet invasion in 1979, Japan hadn't given diplomatic recognition to any groups. In February, 2002, however, to follow up on the International Conference on Reconstruction Assistance to Afghanistan and to contribute to the peace and reconstruction process of the country, the Embassy of Japan in Afghanistan was reopened.

Outline of the Situation in Afghanistan (up to March 2001)

• Statement by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan on Transition in Afghanistan (July 17, 2011)
• Statement by the Press Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, on Attack against UN office in Afghanistan (April 2, 2011)
• Statement by the Press Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, on the announcement on beginning of transition by the Afghan Government (March 24, 2011)
• Statement by the Press Secretary on the Opening of the Lower House of Afghanistan (January 25, 2011)
• Statement by the Press Secretary on the postponement of the opening of the Lower House of Afghanistan (January 22, 2011)
• Statement by the Press Secretary on the finalization of the result of the Lower House Election in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (December 2, 2010)
• Telephone Conversation between Mr. Naoto Kan, Prime Minister of Japan, and H.E. Mr. Hamid Karzai, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (September 8, 2010)
• Flood Disaster in Afghanistan (Message of Sympathy from Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada as well as Japanese Aid to be Delivered through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)) (August 6, 2010)
• Statement by H.E. Mr. Katsuya Okada, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan At the Kabul Conference (July 2010)
• Mr. Katsuya Okada, Minister for Foreign Affairs, to Attend the Kabul International Conference (July 2010)
• Visit to Japan by H.E. Mr. Hamid Karzai, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (June 2010)
• Meeting between Mr. Katsuya Okada, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, and Mr. Mohammad Asif Rahimi, Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (March 2010)
• Statement by Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, on the bombings in Kabul, Afghanistan (March 2010)
• Avalanche Disaster in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (Message of Condolence from Mr. Katsuya Okada, Minister for Foreign Affairs) (February 2010)
• Statement by Mr. Katsuya Okada, Minister for Foreign Affairs, on the strategy on Afghanistan and Pakistan announced by the U.S. Government (December 2009)
• New strategy to counter the threat of terrorism (Japan's new assistance package to Afghanistan and Pakistan) (November 2009) [PDF]
• Statement by the Press Secretary on the Decision by the Republic of Korea to Establish a New Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Afghanistan (November 2009)
• Statement of G8 Foreign Ministers on Afghanistan Presidential Elections (November 2009)
• Statement by the Press Secretary on the finalization of the result of the Afghan Presidential Election (November 2009)
• Statement by the Press Secretary on the terrorist Attack in Kabul, Afghanistan (October 2009)
• Statement by the Press Secretary on the Presidential Election in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (October 2009)
• Visit to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan by Mr. Katsuya Okada, Minister for Foreign Affairs (October 2009)
• Statement by the Press Secretary on Suicide Bombing in Afghanistan (October 2009)
• Statement by the Press Secretary on the Bomb Attack in Southern Afghanistan (August 2009)
• Statement by the Press Secretary on the Presidential and Provincial Council Elections in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (August 2009)
• Dispatch of Japanese Government Electoral Observation Team for the Presidential Elections and Provincial Council Elections in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (August 2009)
• Completion of the Kandahar-Herat Highway (July 2009)
• Mr. Hirofumi Nakasone, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, to attend the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting and G8 Foreign Ministers' Meeting (June 2009)
• Joint Press Release (Japan / the Islam Republic of Iran) on Cooperation in Afghanistan (May 2009)
• Dispatch of Japan's Civilian Assistance Team to the Chaghcharan PRT in Afghanistan (April 2009)
• Mr. Hirofumi Nakasone, Minister for Foreign Affairs, to Attend an International Conference on Afghanistan (March 2009)
  • Chairmen's Statement of the International Conference on Afghanistan (March 31, 2009)
  • Statement by H.E. Mr. Hirofumi NAKASONE, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan (March 31, 2009)
• Telephone conversation between Mr. Hirofumi Nakasone, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Dr. Rangin Dadfar Spanta, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan concerning Japanese Assistance to Afghanistan (February 2009)
• The Japan-ROK Meeting Concerning the Reconstruction of Afghanistan (January 2009)
• Opening Remark by H.E. Masahiko SHIBAYAMA, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, at the Roundtable hosted by UNITAR Hiroshima Office "Afghanistan Reconstruction - Challenges and Commitments" (November 2008) [PDF]
• Statement by Mr. Masahiko Koumura, Minister for Foreign Affairs, on the Unanimous Adoption of the United Nations Security Council Resolution on the Extension of the Authorization of the ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) in Afghanistan (September 2008)
  • United Nations Security Council Resolution 1833 (2008) [PDF]
• Statement by the Press Secretary on Suicide Bombing in Afghanistan (July 2008)
• G8 Foreign Ministers' Statement on Afghanistan (June 2008)
• Mr. Masahiko Koumura, Minister for Foreign Affairs, to Attend the International Conference in Support of Afghanistan (June 2008)
  • Statement by H.E. Mr. Koumura, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan (June 12, 2008)
• Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance for Afghanistan, especially for the Stabilization of the Border Areas (March 2008)
• Emergency Assistance for Heavy Snowfall in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (February 2008)
• Holding of the meeting of the Afghanistan Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board (JCMB) and the visit to Japan of the delegation headed by Dr. Dadfar Spanta, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (February 2008)
  • Opening statement by Foreign Minister Masahiko KOUMURA at the JCMB Political Directors level meeting (February 5, 2008)
  • Communique of the Political Directors Meeting on Afghanistan (February 5, 2008)
  • Japan's Support for Afghanistan [PDF]
• Japanese liaison officer to the NATO Senior Civilian Representative in Kabul, Afghanistan (December 2007)
• Meeting between Mr. Masahiko Koumura, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Anwar Ul-Haq Ahady, Minister of Finance of Afghanistan (November 2007)
• Statement by the Press Secretary on the Suicide Bombing in Baglan (North Afghanistan) (November 2007)
• Statement by H.E. Mr. Takahiro Shinyo, Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan, at the Debate of the General Assembly on the Situation in Afghanistan (November 2007)
• Statement by H.E. Mr. Yukio Takasu, Permanent Representative of Japan, at the Meeting of the Security Council on the Situation in Afghanistan (October 2007)
• Statement by Mr. Nobutaka Machimura, Minister for Foreign Affairs, on the Adoption of the United Nations Security Council Resolution on the Extension of the Mandate of the ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) in Afghanistan (September 2007)
  • United Nations Security Council Resolution 1776 (2007) [PDF]
• Statement of the III FEALAC Foreign Ministers' Meeting on the Hostage Situation in Afghanistan (August 2007)
• Statement by the Press Secretary on the Kidnapping of Nationals of the Republic of Korea (ROK) in Afghanistan (July 2007)
• Funeral of the Former King and Father of the Nation of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Mohammad Zahir Shah (July 2007)
• Meeting between Mr. Takeshi Iwaya, Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Dr. Dadfar Spanta, Foreign Minister of Afghanistan (July 2007)
• Holding of the "Conference on DIAG (Disbandment of the Illegal Armed Groups) for the Stabilization of Afghanistan: Coordination with the Police Reform" and the Visit to Japan of Mr. Abdul Karim Khalili, Vice President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, and Mr. Tom Koenigs, Special Representative for Afghanistan and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) (June 2007)
  • Meeting between Mr. Taro Aso, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Abdul Karim Khalili, Vice President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (June 22, 2007)
  • Talks between Mr. Taro Aso, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Tom Koenigs, Special Representative of UN Secretary General for Afghanistan and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) (June 22, 2007)
  • Co-Chair's Summary (June 21, 2007)
  • Welcoming Remarks by Foreign Minister Aso (June 21, 2007)
• Exchange of Notes concerning Japanese Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Project (GAGP) for the Vocational Training Project in Chagcharan Districts of Ghor Province in Afghanistan (June 2007)
• Exchange of Notes concerning Japanese Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Projects (GAGP) for Female Literacy Project in Chagcharan, Dowlat Yar, and Lal Sarjangal Districts of Ghor Province in Afghanistan (June 2007)
• Meeting between Mr. Katsuhito Asano, Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Haneef Atmar, Minister of Education of Afghanistan (June 2007)
• Statement of Ambassador Kenzo Oshima, Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, on the Situation in Afghanistan (March 2007)
• Secondment of a Japan's Foreign Ministry Official as the Chief of Staff in the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) (March 2007)
• Visit to Japan by Mr. Masoom Stanekzai, Advisor to the President of Afghanistan (February 2007)
  • Meeting between Mr. Taro Aso, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Masoom Stanekzai, Advisor to the President of Afghanistan (February 2007)
  • Meeting between Mr. Katsuhito Asano, Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Masoom Stanekzai, Advisor to the President of Afghanistan (February 2007)
• Statement by Mr. Mitoji Yabunaka, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan at the Meeting of Political Directors of the Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board (JCMB) (January 2007)
• Meeting between Mr. Katsuhito Asano, Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Mohamad Daoud, Vice-minister of Interior in Charge of Counter Narcotics of Afghanistan (February 2007)

(Open a New Window)

• Archives on Japan-Afghanistan Relations (1998-2006)

Press Secretary's Press Conference on Afghanistan

• Archives of Press Secretary's Press Conference on Afghanistan (1998-2004)

• Embassy of Japan in Afghanistan Web Site (Japanese Only)
• Embassy of Afghanistan in Japan Web Site