Japan in touch with Afghan factions, ambassador says

.c Kyodo News Service 

ISLAMABAD, March 10 (Kyodo) - The Japanese government is in touch with the Northern Alliance and Taliban as part of its efforts to promote a peaceful settlement of the Afghan conflict, Japanese Ambassador to Pakistan Minoru Kubota said Friday.

Kubota told reporters Japan maintains contact with both factions engaged in Afghan fighting and is supporting United Nations efforts to promote a peaceful settlement of the Afghan conflict.

Japan does not recognize the Taliban government, which controls the road between Kabul and Kandahar and claims to have control of 90% of the territory in Afghanistan.

Friday, 10 March, 2000, 14:42 GMT

Japan launches Afghan peace bid - BBC

Japan has launched the latest international initiative to try to end the long-running civil war in Afghanistan.

It's invited for indirect talks the Taleban movement, which controls most of Afghanistan, and the United Front, which represents the government ousted by the Taleban four years ago.

Japan says it wants to address the need for peace, the need to presrve Afghanistan's cultural heritage amid the civil war, and issues of human rights and terrorism.

A BBC Regional Analyst says Japan has shown interest in the Afghan conflict for some time, but this is thought to be the first time that both sides have been invited to Tokyo for talks.

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