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Japan, Pakistan to step up dialogue

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf agreed Thursday in Tokyo to step up economic cooperation and security dialogue between their countries by creating a new framework of high-level talks.
During their summit, the two leaders agreed to launch an economic dialogue this year at least at the bureau-chief level to discuss Japan's economic cooperation measures, including private-sector trade and investment.

Under the security dialogue, also expected to be at the bureau-chief level, the two nations will discuss nuclear nonproliferation, the India-Pakistan situation, antiterrorism measures, East Asian security and other regional security issues, a Foreign Ministry official said.

Koizumi praised Musharraf's decision to sever ties with the Taliban regime in Afghanistan and cooperate with the international community in the global fight against terrorism in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the United States.

"The president made a very difficult decision, but it was the right decision," Koizumi was quoted as telling Musharraf.

Musharraf said his country is committed to Afghanistan's reconstruction and wants to cooperate with Japan in the process, the official said.

He expressed gratitude for Japan's decision in November to extend $300 million in grants over the next two years, as well as for an earlier agreement on rescheduling Pakistan's debts to Japan.

But the president also asked Koizumi to reduce interest on the debts to help ease Pakistan's repayment burden and for additional economic assistance, including new yen loans, the official said.

Mentioning a specific project, Musharraf asked Japan to extend yen loans for the third phase of the ongoing construction of the Kohat Tunnel, a 2-km tunnel in northwest Pakistan, for which Japan extended loans of 5.4 billion yen in 1994 and 4 billion yen in 2001.

Koizumi agreed to extend loans for the tunnel project and said Japan will consider interest cuts on debts as well as providing other economic assistance measures, adding that details will be discussed at the new economic cooperation dialogue, the official said.

To help with Pakistan's democratization process, Koizumi promised to send an election monitoring team to Pakistan when it holds a national election in October, which will mark a transition to a civilian government from a military regime, the official said.

During a joint news conference after their meeting at the Prime Minister's Official Residence, Musharraf denied his nation's alleged link to North Korean missile technologies.

"Very brief answer: No," Musharraf said. "We don't have any contact (with North Korea), we have our own indigenous capability, which we are using (to develop our missiles)."

The Pakistani president, meanwhile, justified his nation's recent purchase of military jets from China, saying they are needed to defend the nation from neighboring India.

"Yes, we are getting these (aircraft) from China in a purely defensive nature to exercise our right of deterrence and self-defense," Musharraf said.

On the territory row over Kashmir between Indian and Pakistan, Koizumi said Japan and the international community should help the two South Asian countries seek a solution through dialogue.

"It's not just a matter between Pakistan and India," Koizumi said. "It is a matter that concerns international security. I hope that dialogue between the two countries can be stepped up further."

source: The Japan Times, 15/03/2002