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India cool to Japan lifting sanctions

P Jayaram in New Delhi

India reacted coolly to Japan's decision Friday to lift sanctions imposed on New Delhi in the wake of the 1998 nuclear tests and said the steps had proved "ineffective".

"We have always maintained that such sanctions are an ineffective tool. These were imposed unilaterally by Japan," external affairs ministry spokeswoman Nirupama Rao said.

"We have noted this development," she said, commenting on Tokyo's decision to lift sanctions against both India and Pakistan.

Japan also announced that former prime minister Yoshiro Mori would visit India for three days from Sunday as a special envoy of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to expand bilateral relations, exchange views on the situation in Afghanistan and discuss steps to tackle international terrorism.

Mori, who will be accompanied by Senior Vice Foreign Affairs Minister S Sugiura, will meet Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and other leaders.

The Japanese embassy said in a statement that New Delhi was one of the "important beneficiaries" of Japanese foreign assistance since its inception in 1958.

It said Japan "highly values India's and Pakistan's efforts to contribute to strengthening the international coalition against terrorism."

"It is vitally important that Pakistan remains stable and cooperative with the international society in this combat against terrorism. In this context, Japan recognises, from the medium to long-term point of view, a genuine need to support Pakistan, particularly in view of Pakistan's difficult domestic situation.

"At the same time, it is imperative for Japan to strengthen its positive engagement with India that is expected to play an important role in tackling terrorism and in enhancing stability in Southwest Asia region."

Japan, however, reiterated India and Pakistan to make progress in the field of nuclear non-proliferation and sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.

It warned: "Should the situation concerning nuclear non-proliferation deteriorates in India and/or Pakistan, Japan will consider taking appropriate measures including restoring the discontinued measures."

Owing to the sanctions, Japanese aid to India fell though assistance continued for major ongoing projects like the Delhi Mass Rapid Transport System Project and the Simhadri Thermal Power Station Project in Andhra Pradesh.

"With the discontinuation of economic measures, Japan will be able to support yet more substantively to India's efforts for socio-economic development, thereby contributing to further strengthening of friendly and cooperative ties between the two countries," it said.

Indo-Asian News Service
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