2020.16.02 Attendance at the 7th Afghan Kite Festival.

Attendance at the 7th Afghan Kite Festival.

February 16, 2020: H.E. Ambassador Dr. Bashir Mohabbat attended the 7th Afghan Kite Festival, which was jointly organized by the Japan-Afghanistan Association, Nittaidai Ebara High School, and the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Japan.


In the opening ceremony, H.E. Ambassador Dr. Mohabbat gave opening remarks that it was his great pleasure that Afghanistan and Japan to have such an exchange in a shared cultural activity of both countries, like kite flying, to better understand each other as well as his hope for the future strengthening and developing of the ties between the two countries. This speech was followed by Mr. Kenshiro Matsunami, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Nippon Sports Science University and former Deputy Minister of MEXT, who spoke praise on the longtime and strong relations between Afghanistan and Japan.


The rainy-day event was still attended by nearly 100 visitors and supporters including H.E. Mr. Motohide Yoshikawa, Former Ambassador & Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations and former Director-General of the Middle Eastern and African Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan; and H.E. Mr. Toyoei Shigeeda, Former Ambassador of Japan to Lithuania. The embassy had handmade and decorated nearly 50 Afghan kites available for guests to the event to tryout and compare to the traditional Japanese kites they are more familiar with. Also on display were Afghan dried fruits & nuts, lapis lazuli goods, Afghan carpets, and national clothing. The fortunate guests to the event were able to enjoy not only the standard and deliciously prepared Japanese festival food but also Afghan chicken kabob sandwiches prepared by the embassy for the guests to try the flavors of Afghanistan and learn more about the country.

All in all, it was highly entertaining event and all present enjoyed the inter-cultural exchange between Afghanistan and Japan. Both young and old were able to feel and appreciate even on a small scale the wonders of Afghanistan’s charm and wonder. During the duration of the event, H.E. Ambassador Dr. Mohabbat had the pleasure of meeting with the organizing executives, officials of the supporting institutions, the schools related to Afghanistan, and several of the distinguished guests who attended the event.

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2020.13.02 Reception on the Occasion of the Visit to Japan by H.E. Mr. Mohammad Humayon Qayoumi, Acting Minister of Finance and Chief Advisor on Infrastructure to H.E. the President, Hon. Mr. Aziz Ahmad Gulistani, Deputy Minister of Urban Development & Land, and other Afghan Delegation Members Under JICA and the IMF.

Reception on the Occasion of the Visit to Japan by H.E. Mr. Mohammad Humayon Qayoumi, Acting Minister of Finance and Chief Advisor on Infrastructure to H.E. the President, Hon. Mr. Aziz Ahmad Gulistani, Deputy Minister of Urban Development & Land, and other Afghan Delegation Members Under JICA and the IMF.

February 13, 2020: It was a pleasure for H.E. Ambassador Dr. Bashir Mohabbat to host a dinner reception in honor of the Visit to Japan by H.E. Mr. Mohammad Humayon Qayoumi, Acting Minister of Finance and Chief Advisor on Infrastructure to H.E. President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, Hon. Mr. Aziz Ahmad Gulistani, Deputy Minister of Urban Development & Land, and other Afghan Delegation Members from various sectors of education under JICA and the IMF, at the embassy’s Rumi Balkhi Hall. All of the Diplomats and staff were present to receive the honored guests for the evening’s festivities.


Over 30 guests from JICA, MOFA Japan, IMF, and the Afghanistan’s Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Urban Development & Land, were welcomed to the Embassy for the event. The evening’s Emcee Mr. Nasrullah Rozbeh, Second Secretary, welcomed each speaker to give their remarks. H.E. Ambassador Dr. Mohabbat first began by thanking the people and Government of the noble nation of Japan for their most benevolent and gracious support over the years in the redevelopment of Afghanistan. Further in his speech he highlighted the wonderful works of international solidarity Japan’s governmental agencies such as JICA and international ones such as IMF for aiding in the development of humanity to its highest level possible towards universal and lasting peace.”


This was followed by remarks from H.E. Mr. Mohammad Humayon Qayoumi, Acting Minister of Finance and Chief Advisor on Infrastructure to H.E. President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, who spoke on the significance of the long relations between Afghanistan and Japan, especially as Afghanistan and the government continue to find ways to enhance the development process in sustainable ways. This was followed by remarks from Hon. Mr. Aziz Ahmad Gulistani, Deputy Minister of Urban Development & Land who noted that Japan’s infrastructural development and mega cities were an inspiration for Afghanistan to expand and develop in the future.


Following all of the remarks, guests were invited to dine on traditional Afghan cuisine which was prepared by the Embassy in honor of the visit by the delegation guests.

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2020.10.02 Attendance at the Reception Honoring the 41st Anniversary of the Victory of the Islamic Revolution of Iran.

Attendance at the Reception Honoring the 41st Anniversary of the Victory of the Islamic Revolution of Iran.

February 10, 2020: H.E. Ambassador Dr. Bashir Mohabbat attended the reception for the 41st Anniversary of the Victory of the Islamic Revolution of Iran, at the Tokyo residence of H.E. the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Japan.
On behalf of the people and Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, H.E. Ambassador Dr. Mohabbat expressed congratulations to the people and Government of Iran, through H.E. Ambassador Mr. Morteza Rahmani Movahed, on the occasion. Further, he also entreated him that their neighboring people and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran work and cooperate together with Afghanistan as it strives for further redevelopment and peace across the region as well as the world. In return, H.E. Ambassador Mr. Rahmani Mohaved expressed his appreciation for H.E. Dr. Mohabbat's attendance and assured him that Iran would continue to cooperate with Afghanistan to secure a lasting regional and global peace. While at the event, H.E. Dr. Mohabbat also had the pleasure of meeting with others of Their Excellencies the Ambassadors, diplomats with missions in Japan, members of Government, and other distinguished guests all present in honor of the auspicious occasion.

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2020.03.02 Attendance at the Asiatic Society of Japan, Inc.’s (ASJ) Monthly Lecture, Attended by Honorary Patron, Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado.

Attendance at the Asiatic Society of Japan, Inc.’s (ASJ) Monthly Lecture, Attended by Honorary Patron, Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado.

February 3, 2020: It was an honor and a pleasure for H.E. Ambassador Dr. Bashir Mohabbat to attend the Asiatic Society of Japan, Inc. monthly lecture at Jyosai University’s Kioi Campus in Tokyo. Also in attendance was the Honorary Patron of the organization, Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado.
This month's guest speaker was Olympic Silver Medalist Mr. Yuki Ota, President of the Japan Fencing Federation - and youngest sitting President of a Japanese Sports Federation - who spoke on the significance for Japan in hosting the 2020 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games. On behalf of the people and Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, H.E. Ambassador Dr. Mohabbat greeted Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado, and through her thanking the people and Government of Japan for their steadfast and benevolent support of Afghanistan over the years on its quest for progress, prosperity, and peace. In return, Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado thanked H.E. Dr. Mohabbat for his kind words as well for his participation in the monthly meeting of the ASJ in which he is also a Board Member. While at the monthly meeting, H.E. Dr. Mohabbat had the opportunity to meet once again with the other ASJ members and special guests all present in honor of the ASJ monthly meeting.

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2020.31.01 Presentation at the EDEN Seminar III at Shizenkan University.

Presentation at the EDEN Seminar III at Shizenkan University.

January 31, 2020: It was an honor for H.E. Ambassador Dr. Bashir Mohabbat to join in giving a presentation at the EDEN Seminar III at Shizenkan University in Tokyo. Also in attendance were Mr. Nasrullah Rozbeh, Second Secretary, and Mr. Abdul Hameed Hashimi, Third Secretary & Consul, as well as all the staff for the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Tokyo.



EDEN (Emerging and Developing Economies Network) is a Japan based, university-driven initiative launched in 2019. Their goal is to work with partners in Japan and worldwide to identify and share solutions for current global issues. EDEN endeavors to rally diverse perspectives to work together to find solutions. The seminar was devoted to Afghanistan/AFLP initiative for greening Afghanistan through various ecological projects including the development of botanical gardens. With the idea of greening Afghanistan in mind, and in honored memory of Dr. Tetsu Nakamura who dedicated his life with the mission of greening Afghanistan, the seminar began with a Moment of Silence to pay tribute the the legacy and memory of the late Hon. Dr. Nakamura.


During the seminar H.E. Ambassador Dr. Mohabbat was honored to give the first presentation for EDEN, entitled “Afghanistan’s Environment Today & Tomorrow – an overview.” H.E. Dr. Mohabbat presented facts of contemporary Afghanistan and its trajectory among the topics of demographics, topography, mountainous regions, rivers, basins, infrastructural grading projects, water management, effects of climate change, and participation in the Paris Agreement.


Other presenters included Ms. Nassrine Azimi, Senior Advisor for UNITAR, Co-founder & Chair of EDEN Seminars speaking on the “Green Legacy Hiroshima Initiative” and “Botanical Gardens in Afghanistan – greening the next millennium”; and Mr. Hiroshi Naito, of Naito Architect & Associates speaking on “What we should think when we think about botanical gardens” from an architectural perspective.


Close to 100 people attended the event and participated in the Panel Discussion following the presentations to further talk about the topics being presented. Also at the event was a display of Afghan cultural items, dried Afghan fruits and nuts, award-winning Afghan saffron lemonade, and lapis lazuli items provided by the Embassy and local Afghan-owned Afghan goods businesses. All present remarked how enlightening and enjoyable the seminar was.

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2020.29.01 Attendance at the 2020 Tokyo Ambassadors Night.

Attendance at the 2020 Tokyo Ambassadors Night.

January 29, 2020: It was an honor for H.E. Ambassador Dr. Bashir Mohabbat to attend the evening reception entitled “Tokyo Ambassadors Night” hosted by Hon. Ms. Yuriko Koike, Governor of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, at Fuji Television Station.
This evening was an event to honor all of the Ambassadors and Heads of Mission in Tokyo and enable them to meet, network further, and learn about the many wonders of Tokyo. H.E. Ambassador Dr. Mohabbat had the opportunity to meet and speak once again with Hon. Governor Ms. Koike, to whom he expressed thanks for hosting this event as well as profound gratitude on behalf of the people and Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan for the tireless dedication and benevolence Japan has shown to Afghanistan over the years in its reconstruction process and continued cooperation and support as it strives for peace.
In return, Hon. Mayor Koike thanked H.E. Dr. Mohabbat for attending the event, his kind words regarding the strong ties between their respective countries, and reaffirmed her commitment to maintaining and furthering the bilateral relationship they have enjoyed well into the future. Further, Hon. Mayor Koike expressed her sincerest hopes for a good contingency of Afghan athletes competing as the Afghanistan National Olympic Team in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games. In response, H.E. Dr. Mohabbat also expressed his hopes that their representation will give all their best efforts. While at the event, H.E. Dr. Mohabbat also had the pleasure of also meeting and speaking with several of Their Excellencies the Ambassadors and Heads of Missions in Japan, as well as other distinguished guests, all of whom were present for the outstanding occasion.

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2020.25.01 Attendance at the Memorial for the Late Dr. Nakamura, hosted by Peshawar-kai

Attendance at the Memorial for the Late Dr. Nakamura, hosted by Peshawar-kai

January 25, 2019: It was with a heavy heart that His Excellency Ambassador Dr. Bashir Mohabbat attended a somber memorial to honor the late Dr. Tetsu Nakamura and the five others who lost their lives in the same attack, hosted by the Peshawar-Kai at the Seinan Gakuin University Chapel in Fukuoka Prefecture.


More than two-thousand mourners attended the event to pay their respects. The late Hon. Dr. Nakamura was a philanthropic physician who spent decades committing himself to humanitarian work in Afghanistan. He headed the Peace Japan Medical Services (PMS) also known as Peshawar-kai. He worked to build canals, hospitals, mosques, and was even credited with transforming the Gamberi desert into forests and farmlands. Dr. Nakamura’s kind benevolence and dedication to making the world a better place was not overlooked by the Afghan people who joyfully welcomed him as an honorary Afghan citizen and called him “Kaka Murad' - meaning Uncle Murad; a Afghan-stylized version of his name Nakamura.
On this somber occasion H.E. Dr. Mohabbat shared in the sorrow of both the people of Afghanistan and Japan at the loss of the lives of the six souls in the deadly attack. He expressed his sorrow at the untimely passing of someone of such good character as well as his prayers for Mr. Nakamura’s soul, for the souls of the benevolent guards who paid the ultimate sacrifice of their lives, and for the comfort of their respective families during this difficult time.

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