Staff Reporter
Karachi
A webinar was held under the auspices of the Karachi Council on Foreign Relations (KCFR), chaired by its Chairman Ikram Sehgal and moderated by Member Board of Governors, KCFR, Moin Fudda. The Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan he Matsuda Kuninori was the Chief Guest. Ambassador Matsuda touched upon aspects of Japan-Pakistan relations, showing a map with Pakistan bang in the middle of many South Asian countries, the Middle East and China. “I strongly believe that Pakistan’s future derives from its strategic location.
Pakistan is the gateway to Afghanistan, Central Asian Republics, as well as the western part of China and Pakistan provides these land-locked countries with outlets to international markets”. About Afghanistan, he believed with progress in the peace process “we can see the unique opportunity of creating regional connectivity and regional economy and social development. Japan is ready and willing to cooperate with Pakistan in the regional development, starting from Pakistan, Afghanistan, the CARs and further down the road into the future, Iran, China and India.” His Excellency said Pakistan helped Japan after its defeat in World War II, first diplomatically, then economically. In 1952 Japan and Pakistan officially established diplomatic relations, opening Embassies in Karachi and Tokyo respectively.
In spite of the pandemic both Pakistan and Japanese governments have continued dialogue, starting with the official visit of then Economic Minister Mr. Azhar in January 2020, then in February the President of JICA, Kitaoka came to Pakistan and met PM Imran Khan. “But after that because of the pandemic we stopped engaging face to face but managed to set up tele conferences, for example between our Foreign Minister Motegi and Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Qureshi in May and thereafter in August between our Defence Minister Kono and COAS Pakistan Army Gen Bajwa”. He said there were three pillars of Japan’s development support to Pakistan.
