Pakistan-Japan Ties
By the Editor

BEFORE taking off for his next destination on Sunday, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi of Japan have had ‘fruitful’ talks with President Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in Islamabad on Saturday on bilateral relations and regional and international issues.

Koizumi announced resumption of Yen loans for Pakistan and offered 155 million dollar credit under the facility. The two countries also signed three agreements for bilateral cooperation.

A joint declaration issued on the occasion reaffirmed their strong commitment to close cooperation for security, stability and prosperity of Asia.

Pakistan and Japan have strong cooperative relations. Japan has been the major aid and trading partner to Pakistan over the decades.

Except for suspension of its assistance following nuclear tests by Pakistan in 1998, Japan had provided valuable help to Pakistan for its socio-economic development. Prime Minister Koizumi’s visit to Islamabad will hopefully prove monumental in the revival of the traditional economic ties between the two countries.

It will, in fact, lead to expansion of these relations in view of shared perception on various regional and international issues.

Both Pakistan and Japan are opposed to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. The two countries are also committed to nuclear non-proliferation.

Pakistan is appreciative of Japan’s decision to resume the Yen loans for Pakistan. Japan’s change of mind is obviously the result of Pakistan’s scrupulous conduct in curbing nuclear proliferation and its vital role in dealing with the menace of terrorism regionally and internationally.

Of-course, Pakistan welcomes the new credit of about 155 million dollars under the facility for the Lower Chenab Canal System Rehabilitation and Load Dispatch System Upgradation Projects.

Japan has also offered technical training facilities to Pakistani nationals, besides a grant of assitance of 30.2 million dollars for the improvement of water supply scheme in Faisalabad and 48.3 million dollars to Pakistan for rehabilitation of gates of Taunsa Barrage.

Understandably, the talks between Japanese Prime Minister and Pakistani leaders were held in a candid atmosphere of friendship and cordiality reflective of their warm ties.

It’s encouraging that both sides expressed approbation of each other’s views on vital regional and international issues.

Japan appreciated the ongoing dialogue process between Pakistan and India and Pakistan’s efforts to seek peaceful resolution of the long-standing Kashmir issue.

It’s understood that the two sides also discussed the proposed UN reforms with particular reference to the Security Council’s expansion. Pakistan has, however, taken a principled position on the issue.● 

 -  Mumtaz Hamid Rao
www.MumtazRao.net