Guarded reception for Taliban's new Afghan government in Asia, Europe

Voicing concern about the govt's composition, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said he saw little reason for optimism about conditions in Afghanistan

Germany, China and Japan offered a lukewarm reception on Wednesday to the Taliban's provisional government in Afghanistan, following the Islamist militants' lightning seizure of Kabul last month.

Taliban leaders filled all the top posts in Tuesday's government list - which had no outsiders and no women - while an associate of the group's founder was named prime minister and the interior minister figured on a U.S. terrorism wanted list.

The structure of the new government runs counter to advice to the Taliban from world powers for an inclusive government, backing up its pledges of a more conciliatory approach that upholds human rights,