Afghan Ambassador To Japan Asks For International Help
Afghanistan's ambassador to Japan has called on the international community to support the Afghan people, who are facing poverty and starvation.
Shaida Mohammad Abdali was speaking in an interview with NHK.
Monday marks one year since the Taliban retook power in Afghanistan, amid the withdrawal of US forces from the country.
Abdali became ambassador to Japan in spring last year after having served in several key posts under the previous government. He stayed on the job even after the Taliban returned to power last August.
Abdali pointed out that the country's 20-year-long effort after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States went to waste with the collapse of the previous government. He said Afghanistan has obviously changed a lot.
He said that the poverty level has been rising since last year, and people are starving. The ambassador stressed that Afghanistan needs engagement of the international community, particularly to deal with the situation the people are in.
On the possibility of the return of international terrorism, he warned that disengagement of the international community will increase the likelihood of such a threat.
Abdali disclosed that the Afghan Embassy in Tokyo currently does not get any financial backing from the Taliban.