The Hindu : International : Japan will resume yen loans to Pakistan, says Koizumi

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 04, 2005

International

International

Japan will resume yen loans to Pakistan, says Koizumi

B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Japan have expressed serious concern over international black market networks in the proliferation of technologies and equipment related to weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and underscored the need for all countries to identify and dismantle them.

At the end of the two-day visit of Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, both sides agreed to continue the bilateral Consultations on Disarmament and Non-proliferation in the context of Pakistan-Japan Security Dialogue.

It is for the first time that a joint declaration has been issued outlining the nature of ties and the desire to take the relations to a new level. Mr. Koizumi, who visited Pakistan after a gap of five years, announced the resumption of yen loans on low interest. In the first phase, being revived after the 1998 nuclear tests by Pakistan, Islamabad would receive $155.5 millions.

The declaration said both sides viewed that terrorism remained one of the most serious issues confronting the international society and expressed determination to continue bilateral counter-terrorism cooperation.

"In particular, Pakistan's importance in the global fight against terrorism in the aftermath of the 11th September, 2001 has served to strengthen these cooperative ties," the statement said.

Japan welcomed the India-Pakistan Composite Dialogue process, which includes Confidence-Building Measures (CBMs). It also welcomed the recent positive developments resulting from this process, including launching of bus service and the successful visit by President Musharraf to India.

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