Japan's ambassador to Afghanistan says he has been raising concerns about restrictions on women's rights in discussions with the country's Taliban leaders.

The Japanese embassy in Afghanistan temporarily relocated to Qatar after the Taliban seized power in August, 2021. It partially resumed work in the Afghan capital, Kabul, in September of last year.

Ambassador Okada Takashi, who has been talking with the people of Afghanistan as well as meeting with the Taliban leadership, recently spoke to NHK online.

Okada said two years after the Taliban returned to power, cities and towns appear to be regaining a sense normalcy but that people still struggle just to survive.

He said they are facing hardships such as shortages of food because foreign aid has been lagging and the economy is in the doldrums.

Okada talked extensively about the rights of women and girls, which have been eroded during the past two years. He said that girls are denied secondary education in many parts of the country and women are being increasingly deprived of opportunities to socialize.

He said he repeatedly told Taliban leaders that women's support is essential to stabilize the country.

He expressed hope that change could occur in the future as there seem to be members of the Taliban who support introducing a more relaxed policy on women.

The ambassador stressed Japan's intention to continue providing assistance to the people of Afghanistan and reaching out to the Taliban.