Japan’s Policy Towards Afghanistan Since 2001

Japan’s involvement in Afghanistan was outstanding in its history of overseas assistance. The fall of Kabul in 2021 was a serious blow to Japan, while few knew how to accept reality. The post-WWII policy of Japan was to avoid military engagement in a foreign country. The policy encouraged Japan to be one of the top financial donors for Afghanistan after 2001. Japan is intensively engaged in the “reconstruction” of Afghanistan through Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR), “Ogata Initiatives,” and “Ring Roads,” among others, especially in the initial phase of the “reconstruction.” Thus, the sentiment toward Afghanistan after 2021 will continue to have a negative impact on Japan’s overall commitment to international peace-building efforts in the contemporary world. The sense that Japan may not have a clear policy guideline for successful peace-building activities will continue to create anxieties among those who are engaged with conflict-prone countries. It would accelerate the inward-looking mind-set of Japanese policy-makers as well as the general public. Perhaps, Afghanistan is of grave importance for Japan. A serious question after the fall of Kabul in 2021 is whether Japan can afford to resume its readiness to contribute to international peace-building efforts in the near future.