JAPAN, one of the world’s advanced economies, has been providing significant support to Pakistan’s developing economy. On June 6, the Government of Japan announced grant aid worth 326 million Japanese Yen (around 2.08 million USD) for the Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS) program in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Pakistan and Japan have maintained a stable relationship since early days of Pakistan’s independence. Both nations have significant potential to strengthen their ties through increased exchanges in areas such as trade, culture, education and people-to-people interaction. Needless to say, such efforts create the path for greater cooperation in the future.
A study in retrospect: Japan has been a major partner of providing developmental support to Pakistan during both the Cold War and the Post-Cold war periods. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations on 28th April 1952, Pakistan-Japan relations have steadily progressed. Soon after the San Francisco Peace Conference, Pakistan was one of the very few countries which opened their commercial office in Japan. Similarly, Japan opened one of its earliest trade offices in Karachi.
In 1952, Pakistan opened its Embassy in Tokyo. Mr. Mian Ziauddin became the first Ambassador of Pakistan to Japan. In the early 50’s Pakistan was a major import destination for raw cotton for Japan. During the Korean War and in the Cold War, Pakistan and Japan found themselves on the same side of the divide. President Ayub Khan visited Japan in 1960. That was followed by Prime Minister Ike’s visit to Pakistan in 1961. This development was positively marked by a bilateral students exchange training programme between the two countries.
Subsequently the YEN Credits was established to deepen trading and economic relationships. According to the YEN Credit contract, Japan accepted long repayment periods and Pakistan only bought Japanese products. It was aimed to achieve two purposes, for Pakistan good products were available at discounted price and for Japan, its products were introduced in Pakistani and other Muslim countries’ markets.
The frontiers of mutual understanding: The governments of Japan and Pakistan mutually recognize the importance of each other’s role in the international community and confirm their shared conviction that it is vital to have even closer cooperation between the two states on issues and challenges of common interest and concern. The governments of Japan and Pakistan have common interest in the future of Asia, with special focus on counter-terrorism, non-proliferation, economic co-operation and the propagation of democratic values, human rights, rule of law and market economy. In the light of their shared objectives and common interest, Japan and Pakistan reaffirm their strong commitment to closely cooperate on various issues so as to ensure security, stability and prosperity of Asia.
Pakistan too extended assistance to Japan at the time of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami in March 2011. Pakistan provided relief goods such as mineral water, milk and biscuits to Japan and the Pakistani people in Japan went to Tohoku region to serve curry and rice to the victims. This proves that the cordial and friendly relationship between Japan and Pakistan has always been maintained. And most importantly, Pakistan being a good friend of both China and Japan could play an important role in bringing the two countries together.
As for COVID-19, the Government of Japan was one of the major supporters of Pakistan to deal with the coronavirus pandemic. Notably, Japan is the third largest economy in the world with a GDP of over 5 trillion Dollars. It is also a major trading partner of Pakistan as well as a major donor. Their total global imports are in excess of 500 billion Dollars with Pakistan’s share at a mere 0.05 %. Our imports from Japan are around 2 billion Dollars while our exports stand at a meager 250 million Dollars as an average on an annual basis. Japan recognizes the geopolitical importance of Pakistan, which is situated at the crossroads of South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. Japan pays tribute to Pakistan’s role in the fight against terrorism, its continuing efforts towards establishing a democratic and modern Islamic polity under the principles of “Enlightened Moderation”.In August, 2019, the Government of Japan supplemented an aid grant worth around 560 million Japanese Yen (5.2 million USD via UNIDO) to support Agri-Food and Agro-Industry Development in Pakistan’s Provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
The Government of Japan and Pakistan underline the need for comprehensive reform of the UN to enable it to effectively respond to the challenges of the 21st century. Since reform of the Security Council is an important component of the overall reform agenda and is of vital importance to the entire UN membership, the Security Council must be made more effective, credible and representative. The two governments further note the importance of promoting the reform of the UN with the aims of strengthening multilateralism, reinforcing the role of the UN in maintaining and promoting international peace, security and sustainable development, as well as ensuring greater participation for all Member States and sharing among Asian countries in its decision-making process.
The Government of Pakistan appreciates Japan’s increasing role in the UN in the maintenance of international peace and stability as well as for development. And most importantly, Japan and Pakistan have collaborated on a number of initiatives to boost Pakistan’s ICT industry. A portal site has been already established since 2021 to help Pakistani ICT companies find business partners and promotion of credit information use to facilitate business matching with Japanese companies.
Moreover in April, 2024, the Japanese Ambassador congratulated Jam Kamal Khan (Minister for Commerce) on his recent portfolio, expressing a commitment to enhancing bilateral ties. Despite the optimism, challenges faced by the Japanese business community in imports were brought to light by Ambassador WADA Mitsuhiro. Notably, the ambassador extended an invitation to Pakistani businessmen to participate in World Expo 2025 which was scheduled to be held in Osaka Japan in 2025 to promote economic cooperation.
—The writer, an independent ‘IR’ researcher-cum-international law analyst based in Pakistan, is member of European Consortium for Political Research Standing Group on IR, Critical Peace & Conflict Studies, also a member of Washington Foreign Law Society and European Society of International Law. He deals with the strategic and nuclear issues.
