The Hindu : Jamali briefs Japanese envoy on peace overtures to India

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jun 23, 2003

International

International - India & World

Jamali briefs Japanese envoy on peace overtures to India

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD June 22. The Pakistan Prime Minister, Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, has said that the focus of his Government in the anticipated dialogue with India would be on a `result-oriented engagement' on the ways to resolve all issues, including the Jammu and Kashmir `dispute.'

Mr. Jamali told the Japanese Ambassador to Pakistan, Minoru Shibuya, who called on him that the progress on the talks would lead to peace and development in the region. He briefed him about the initiatives taken by Pakistan to resume the dialogue process with India.

On the Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) he had announced on May 6 (in response to CBMs by the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee) Mr. Jamali expressed the hope that India would respond positively to the Pakistan overtures.

An official statement said the Japanese Ambassador told Mr. Jamali that Japan was keen to see improvement in relations between Pakistan and India, as this would benefit the people of the two countries as well as the whole region.

In the meeting, the Prime Minister expressed satisfaction over the longstanding friendship between Pakistan and Japan and said that both countries were working closely to enhance economic and commercial cooperation between them. Mr. Jamali told the Japanese envoy that his regime was committed to ensuring continuity of foreign policy and economic reform agenda. He said Japan had not only given substantial economic assistance to Pakistan, but was a leading trade partner and a major source of foreign investment. He also appreciated rescheduling of bilateral debt by Japan.

Mr. Shibuya said Pakistan and Japan had a long history of friendship. Japan, he said, would continue to support Pakistan's endeavours aimed at economic development, adding that the Japanese Government looked positively at Pakistan's reform agenda. The Ambassador said the inauguration of the Kohat Tunnel Project was a major achievement, as the project had become a symbol of cooperation between Pakistan and Japan.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

International

Stories in this Section

Baghdad resumes oil exports

DNA tests on to confirm Saddam's death

`Decision-making' on troops for Iraq continuing

Disputed maps and dreams of road maps

U.S. move a major relief for poor nations

South Asia a problem region: Putin

44 held over Riyadh bombings

Probe into security breach at Windsor Castle

Stick to road map: Quartet

Junta curb on Red Cross team

Tajiks vote in referendum

Pope prays for forgiveness

Indo-Israeli 'nexus' worrying Pakistan?

U.K. seeks CBI probe in missing NRI case

Jamali briefs Japanese envoy on peace overtures to India