Pakistan, Japan discuss Disarmament, non-Proliferation
By Ruth Chen 'Pakistan Times' Foreign Correspondent

TOKYO (Japan): Pakistan and Japan have reaffirmed committment on disarmament and non-proliferation issues and pledged to work as partners.

The Pakistan delegation was headed by Khalilullah Qazi, Director General for Disarmament, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Japanese side was led by Takeshi Nakane, Director General for Disarmament, Non-Proliferation and Science Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, a message received here from Tokyo said.

The Pakistan side underscored the need for maintaining strategic and conventional stability in South Asia.

The Japanese side appreciated efforts being made by Pakistan to strengthen its export controls and expressed readiness to extend further cooperation in this area.

Cooperation in peaceful uses of nuclear technology, including nuclear power generation, nuclear safety, dual-use technology and space technology also came under discussion.

Both sides had agreed to hold regular bilateral consultations on disarmament and non-proliferation during the visit of the Japanese Prime Minister to Pakistan in April 2005, under the context of Japan-Pakistan Security Dialogue.

The agreement to extend the scope of Security Dialogue was further elaborated during the visit of the Japanese Foreign Minister to Pakistan in January 2006 when both sides agreed to include two senior expert level working groups.

The working groups include one on counter-terrorism issues and the other on disarmament, non-proliferation, dual use technology, the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, nuclear safety and space technology.

During the talks, held in a cordial atmosphere, two sides exchanged views on disarmament and non-proliferation issues, matters pertaining to regional and global security.

Both sides agreed to explore avenues for possible future cooperation in the framework of the Senior Expert Level Working Group. The next round of the talks will be held in Islamabad in 2007.●