In a historic move, the Taliban, the ruling group of Afghanistan, has made its first official visit to Japan, marking a significant diplomatic shift. According to reports from the East Asian country’s media, the delegation, which includes officials from foreign affairs, education, economy, and health sectors, arrived on Sunday for a weeklong trip. This visit is notable as the Taliban’s international travel has been limited since they regained control of Afghanistan in 2021, with most trips confined to nearby regions.

The primary objective of the Taliban representatives, including Latif Nazari, deputy minister of the economy, is to discuss humanitarian aid and explore potential diplomatic relations with Japanese officials. Nazari described the trip as a step toward the group’s goal of becoming “an active member of the international community” and fostering a “strong, united, and prosperous Afghanistan.”

While the Taliban has maintained relations with neighboring countries such as Russia, China, and Central Asian nations, its diplomatic activities outside the region have been scarce. The group had previously visited Europe for summit talks in Norway in 2022 and 2023.

Japan’s embassy in Kabul, which relocated to Qatar after the Taliban’s rise to power, has resumed its diplomatic and humanitarian missions in Afghanistan. The visit to Japan comes shortly after a deadly bombing in Kabul, claimed by ISIS, highlighting ongoing security concerns in Afghanistan.