Speech before the Diet members of ruling Liberal Democratic Party of Japan June 2000--Tokyo Dear Taro Nakayama, Distinguished Members of the LDP, Foreign Policy Research Counsellors, It is a great pleasure and honour to be appearing before this distinguished gathering of Japanese politicians and statesmen whose perceptions and views have an important bearing on the formulation of Japan’s foreign policy. There are perhaps very view other countries as universally liked as Japan. We hold Japan’s constructive diplomacy in great respect. Your country takes principled positions on international issues. The friendship between Pakistan and Japan rests on linkages that are both ancient and contemporary. They go back two thousand years in time, when the Gandhara civilization flourished in what is now Pakistan, from where Mahayana Buddhism found its way to Japan. In contemporary times Pakistan’s geo-political location in close proximity to the Gulf and Central Asia is a matter of special interest to Japan. Pakistan contributes to the peace and stability of this important region and the safety of the sea-lanes of Southeast and East Asia including Japan. Pakistan is an important member of the community of Islamic nations. Last but not least, a nation of 140 million, Pakistan offers a sizeable market for trade and investment. Our common heritage and these mutual interests have enabled our countries to develop a mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation. Over the decades Japan has extended generous financial and technical assistance to Pakistan. For several years before 1998, Japan was the largest donor of bilateral assistance to Pakistan. Your country thus contributed significantly to our economic development, for which we remain grateful. Japan is one of our major trading partners. Also, Japanese private investment contributes greatly to Pakistan’s industrial and infrastructural development. The potential for further cooperation in these and other fields specially in the I.T. sector is much larger than realized so far. Now, I will address some of your concerns. It is true the present government in Pakistan did not come into power through democratic means but it is not a military government. The country is being run as far as possible according to the Constitution; civil laws are intact, fundamental rights are being observed and the press remains as free as anywhere in the world. Judiciary is independent, and an elected President is in office. Unfortunately, the reason for the change of government was the consistent mis-governance by politicians. But this does not mean that we are against democracy as a system. The Supreme Court of Pakistan has given our government three years to implement its agenda of reforms. General elections will be held before 12 October next year. Meanwhile, the Government is engaged in strengthening foundations for a stable and sustainable democracy. We agree that the world community, and specially Japan has a legitimate interest in the containment of nuclear dangers. Pakistan’s decision to conduct nuclear tests was in response to our neighbour’s tests. As we have no nuclear umbrella it had become necessary for us to develop our own capability to deter any threat to our security. But our nuclear programme is modest. Pakistan has no ambition to global or regional power status. We have neither the desire nor the need to engage in any arms race. Pakistan has declared a moratorium on further tests. We will not be the first to resume testing. Pakistan is thus pursuing a unilateral policy of restraint and responsibility. In effect, we are implementing the main purpose of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, which is to bring a halt to nuclear explosion tests. Pakistan voted in favour of the treaty in 1996. We have not signed the treaty only because we have not yet succeeded in our efforts to build domestic consensus. Among other issues that may be of concern to you I may mention Afghanistan. Contrary to some perceptions, specially in the international media, Taliban are not Pakistan’s creation nor are they being supported, sponsored or endorsed by Pakistan. Taliban have emerged as the dominant political force in the country occupying 95% of the territory. They are a reality we cannot deny. Our policy on Afghanistan is that we want to see restoration of peace and an end to fighting in that war ravaged country. We are in favour of a ceasefire and wish that the parties concerned sit together and reach a settlement ensuring peace and normalcy. To that end we have been supporting the UN efforts specially through the forum 6+2. We would also support Japan for any initiative that it may wish to take. We are abiding by the Security Council resolution on sanctions. We were as outraged as the international community by the Taliban’s destruction of Buddhist statues and made more efforts, perhaps more than any other country, to dissuade the Taliban from carrying out this act which is in violation of the tolerant and humanistic spirit of Islam. There is also a popular misperception as if Pakistan is encouraging fundamentalism. Pakistan is neither a fundamental state nor encouraging any militant or radical version of Islam. Pakistan, as I said, values its relations with Japan. We share your commitment to peace and security as well as non-proliferation and economic progress of developing countries. Unfortunately, because of the sanctions, economic aid to Pakistan has stopped, adversely affecting our economic development. Economic development and peace and security are inseparably linked. It is time for Japan to review whether continuation of the sanctions is advancing your economic and political interests in the region. Issues like CTBT are not bilateral issues. They are regional and global issues and are not susceptible to solutions through economic pressures. The best instrument are international forums specially United Nations where we have always supported various initiatives of Japan, including your resolution, “A Path to Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons”.