Daily Times

Diplomatic relations between Japan and Afghanistan were established in 1931. Muhammad Nadir Shah was king of Afghanistan, and Hirohito was the emperor of Japan at that time. Since then the relations of both the countries have experienced quite a few ups and downs.

Afghanistan connects the regions of South Asia and Central Asia. It is a landlocked country, but it attracted the former Soviet Union, who wanted a clearer path to the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. The West, on the other hand, was attracted to it due to its closeness with the region of Central Asia and to contain the advance of the Communist forces, and later, terrorism. Japan being close to the western world wanted to protect its own interests in the country and has followed the developments in Afghanistan with great interest, for a number of reasons.

First, after the end of Cold War, the states of the Soviet Union began declaring their independence. Five republics of Central Asia also declared their independence from the Union. Now they were free to exploit their natural resources for their own benefits.  Japan, like most other countries in the region, want to benefit from the reserves of oil, gas, uranium and other minerals found or located in these Central Asian Republics.

The former Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in December 1979. More than three million Afghans took refuge in various countries, including Pakistan and Iran. Japan condemned the Soviet invasion and adopted a multifold policy as a result

Second, political instability in Afghanistan is a danger to regional and global peace. The volatile condition prevalent in the country is a big hindrance for trade with the Central Asian Republics, through routes in Afghanistan. The Soviet Union withdrew its forces from Afghanistan in 1988. The western countries failed to bridge the vacuum created after this withdrawal and consequently, political instability found deep roots in the country. The US and NATO forces, under the flag of the International Security Assistance Force have been stationed in Afghanistan since 2001, yet they have failed to restore peace in the country.

Third, the US and its other allies declared War on Terror after the 9/11 terrorist attacks on US soil. Victims of the attacks included several Japanese nationals as well, prompting Japan to join the international coalition on the War on Terror and they provided their ports for American forces to refuel and resupply. They also co-chaired the first meeting of the Afghan Reconstruction Steering Group in 2002 in which they announced a $1 million contribution to the UN Afghan Interim Authority Fund and stressed the importance of community building, education, medical care and health, and landmine clearance in the country. They also announced that they would support the reconstruction of the country, and the newly elected government of Hamid Karzai.

Fourth, the world considers Afghanistan the hub for terrorism and this is a problem that nations everywhere are willing to resolve to achieve global peace and security. Japan is also one of those countries that want to terminate the threat of religious extremism.

After the withdrawal of the Soviet forces, Afghanistan’s significance in the international community went down. Japan neither recognised the newly installed Taliban government, nor did they restore their diplomatic relations with the country

Fifth, Buddhism was once the most followed religion in Afghanistan, with many notable landmarks present in the country. However, most of these were destroyed by the Taliban, and now the Japans are determined to play their part in conserving the few Buddhist relics still left in the country.

The former Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in December 1979. More than three million Afghans took refuge in different countries, including Pakistan and Iran. Japan condemned the Soviet invasion and adopted a multifold policy as a result.

They started by refusing to recognise the Soviet government in Afghanistan, and by extending aid to Afghan refugees. They supported a resolution at the United Nations condemning Russia for their excessive show of force, and severed all diplomatic relations with them till agreed to retreat back to their own homeland. They also made every effort in helping displaced refugees from the region, and many of their top dignitaries, including their prime minister and foreign minister visited refugee camps in Pakistan in solidarity with the Afghans.

After Soviet forces pulled back, Afghanistan’s significance in the international community went down, and Japan neither recognised the newly installed Taliban government, nor did they restore their diplomatic relations with the country.

It wasn’t till 2001 that Afghanistan emerged on the global scene once again, in the aftermath of 9/11, and Japan did everything they could do to help the country get back on its feet once the war had de-escalated.

Today Japan and Afghanistan enjoy economic and trade relations once again. The latter is held in great esteem by the former due to their personal interest in the regions of South Asia and the Central Asia.

However, peace in Afghanistan will be the main condition if this relationship has to continue in the future.

The writer is an author and has a doctorate in Political Science

Published in Daily Times, June 29^th 2018.