Japan committed to protecting Afghan heritage: Envoy

KABUL (Pahjwok): Japan is committed to working with Afghanistan’s Ministry of Information and Culture to protect the nation’s cultural heritage and attaches special importance to this sector.

In a statement, the MoIC wrote Japanese Ambassador Masamotu Kenichi met with Information and Culture Minister Sheikh Sher Ahmad Haqqani.

Kenichi said Japan supported efforts for Afghanistan’s stability, kept separated humanitarian issues from political matters, and appreciated the Islamic Emirate’s fight against narcotics as well as its role in maintaining security.

It explained, Kenichi discussed the situation of Afghan media and assured full cooperation with the National Museum of Afghanistan.

He emphasized that Japan was committed to working jointly with MoIC to safeguard cultural heritage and gives this matter special priority.

According to Haqqani, Japanese people and Afghanistan shared deep historical ties, and Japanese assistance to the Afghan people was sincere and independent of political objectives. He expressed hope that relations and cooperation with Japan would continue.

He claimed Japan’s support in protecting the National Museum of Afghanistan, historical artifacts, and monuments was highly valuable, and hoped cooperation in these areas would further expand.

The Islamic Emirate has demonstrated its commitment in all areas related to the cultivation, trade, trafficking, and consumption of narcotics, as well as in the treatment of addicts. He also noted that the media in Afghanistan enjoyed full freedom under Islamic and Afghan values, and an appropriate framework has been provided to facilitate their activities, the minister added.

hz/ma