Society

Japan evacuates embassy staff in Afghanistan to Istanbul

Aug 18 (Japan Today) - Japan has evacuated all personnel from its embassy in Kabul amid the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan after the Taliban took over the country, setting up a temporary office in Istanbul to resume the embassy's operations, the Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.

Twelve Japanese embassy staff members arrived in Dubai on Tuesday "aboard a military airplane of a friendly nation" after the embassy in Kabul was shut Sunday, according to the ministry.

"Securing the safety of Japanese citizens is our top priority, and we will closely cooperate with relevant countries including the United States with our national interests in mind," Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga told a press conference.

On Sunday, the Islamic militant group regained control of the country 20 years after it was ousted from power by U.S.-led forces, with President Ashraf Ghani fleeing Afghanistan following the Taliban's seizure of the capital.

Japan has been actively involved in Afghanistan's reconstruction from a U.S.-led war against al-Qaida, hosting meetings in 2002 and 2012 that gathered donor countries and international organizations together to discuss the development of the conflict-ravaged nation.

Since 2001, Japan has provided to Afghanistan some $6.8 billion in reconstruction assistance as of November 2020. The Japanese government has also pledged additional support of $720 million for the period between 2021 and 2024.

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