Ambassador Abdali Participated in a Seminar Organized by JAFA on Japan-Afghanistan Relations
The seminar on “Japan-Afghanistan Relations” organized by the Japan-Afghanistan Friendship Association (JAFA) was held on July 21, 2021. Ambassador Afghanistan to Japan; Dr. Shaida Mohammad Abdali, Mr. Katsuhiko Takahashi, Director-General for the Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Mr. Mitsuji Suzuka, Former Ambassador of Japan to Afghanistan, Mr. Masahisa Sato, Member of House of Councilors of Japan, and Mr. Kenshiro Matsunami, President of Japan-Afghanistan Friendship Association and Chancellor of Nippon Sports Science University, delivered speeches during the event. The event was attended by members of the JAFA and other Japanese citizens.
The event began with welcoming remarks from Mr. Masahisa Sato. Then, Mr. Matsunami spoke about his experiences and memories of living in Afghanistan during the 1970s and stressed the need to enhance cultural ties and people-to-people exchanges between Japan and Afghanistan.
In his speech, Director-General Takahashi highlighted the importance of continuation of development efforts in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of international forces and reaffirmed Japan’s support to the peace and development efforts in Afghanistan.
Ambassador Abdali spoke about the friendly relations between Japan and Afghanistan and highlighted Japan’s contribution to development efforts in Afghanistan over the past two decades. He also spoke about the Taliban’s brutal campaign of violence across Afghanistan, which has led to the high number of civilian casualties, increasing civilian displacement, and destruction of public infrastructures.
Ambassador Abdali also highlighted the commitment and capabilities of the Afghan defense and security forces to safeguard the shared achievements of the people of Afghanistan and the international community during the last two decades. He also shared his concerns over the presence of foreign terrorist groups in Afghanistan operating under the umbrella of the Taliban and highlighted the importance of continued international support to the Afghan defense and security forces to address the security threats these groups could pose to the region and beyond.
Dr. Abdali also spoke about the recent developments in the Afghan peace process and ways Japan could contribute to this process, as well as, touched upon investment opportunities in the extractive sector of Afghanistan.
While highlighting the contribution of the late Dr. Nakamura to agricultural development in eastern Afghanistan through the construction of irrigation canals, Ambassador Abdali stressed the need to continue Nakamura’s path by replicating his irrigation method across Afghanistan.
The event was followed by a Q&A session.
