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Kashmir can have serious impact on world: Japanese expert

RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: The visiting Japanese expert on security, Nobuo Matsunga, has said that the Kashmir problem between India and Pakistan could have serious impact on the international community as a whole, because due to globalisation no local or regional dispute can remain isolated from the interantional community.

At a gathering of intellectuals, bureaucrats and diplomats at the Institute of Strategic Studies here on Friday, Matsunga, adviser to Japanese foreign minister, was speaking on the security problem in Asia. He listed North Korea, Taiwan, situation in Indonesia, Mynmar and the Kashmir problem in South Asia as security concerns which could have wide-ranging effects in the relations with other countries, as "no regional or local problem is now isolated" from others, he asserted.

In his introductory remarks, the Director-General of the Institute, Dr Tanvir Ahmed, described Matsunga as the best known Japanese diplomat and key member of the government think-tank.

Dr Tanvir said that Pakistan attached great importance to its relationship with Japan for the latter's economic cooperation, trade and investment. Pakistan would like to see Japan play its role in Asia and world affairs, he added.

He noted that Tokyo kept a lower profile than it is entitled to because of its economic progress and development in diverse fields.

Matsunga, who presided over the Tokyo Forum which discussed non-proliferation after nuclear detonations by India and Pakistan, said that he would be urging both to sign CTBT and to give an assurance for not going for further tests. This, he said, was the purpose of his visit to Pakistan.

He agreed with a questioner that the initial resentment and shock felt in Japan at Pakistan's detonation had abated and it was not their purpose to jeopardise good relations with Pakistan.

Japan, he added, is looking forward to having good relations with Pakistan which he reckoned has an important role in the region and the entire world community. He expressed hope that "Japan and Pakistan could work together". Moreover, he believed that Japan and Pakistan shared basic values of democracy and market economy.

About US Congress refusal to sign the Treaty, he said that it was because of the political game in the forthcoming presidential elections. He assuaged Pakistanis' fears against CTBT, saying that the treaty "Is yet to be ratified" by several countries before it becomes operational which would take quite sometime.

He said that Japan had some disputes with China, including territorial one, but it preferred to keep it under the rug and they are making efforts to secure good and cooperative relations.

He said that Japan differed with US perception on Iran. The US regards Iran a terrorist state "but we see it moving towards democracy and moderate state important in the region."

He said on economic matters, too, Japan differed with US which favoured decisive IMF conditionalities for East Asian countries, while Japan wants IMF to see realities on the ground.

In his concluding remarks, Dr Tanvir Ahmed said that Pakistan's track record on non-proliferation has been good and for decades Pakistan had been making proposals for nuclear-free region and had been averse to nuclear route but the Indian actions forced the country in the interest of national security.