November 25, 2001	Sunday	Ramazan 9, 1422

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ISLAMABAD, Nov 24: Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar held talks with the visiting Foreign Minister of Japan, Makiko Tanaka, here on Saturday evening.

The two foreign ministers reviewed Pakistan-Japan relations. They also discussed regional issues with special focus on the situation in Afghanistan and other international developments.

Ms Tanaka complimented Pakistan’s key contribution to the current fight against terrorism. On behalf of the Japanese government, she expressed complete solidarity and support for Pakistan’s pivotal role in this regard.

For his part, Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar conveyed Pakistan government’s gratitude and appreciation for Japan’s political support and significant economic assistance, extended to Pakistan, following its principled decision to ally with the international coalition’s campaign against terrorism.

He also briefed his Japanese counterpart on Pakistan-India relations and the ongoing struggle of the Kashmiri people for their right to self-determination.

He informed Ms Tanaka that Pakistan would continue to strongly support non-proliferation and disarmament. Pakistan was not the first country to conduct nuclear tests in South Asia and that it would not be the first to resume them.

The Japanese foreign minister gave a resume of the steps that the Japanese government had taken to bolster the international coalition’s fight against terrorism. She also explained the rationale for the new overseas role of the Japanese self-defence forces.

Ms Tanaka is expected to call on the President on Monday.

UN OFFICIAL: Japanese Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka held “warm” talks on Saturday with a senior UN official on the refugee crisis in Afghanistan and the hazards facing those wanting to return, a Japanese official said in Islamabad.

The talks focused on the need to rehabilitate Afghanistan to pave the way for the safe return of the estimated four million Afghan refugees living in neighbouring countries, foreign ministry spokesman Daisuke Matsunaga said.

He told a news conference that Filippo Grandi, regional emergency coordinator for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), had thanked Japan for its contribution to international efforts to aid the refugees.

“The talks were very warm,” Matsunaga said at the end of the meeting. He added that Grandi had outlined to Makiko Tanka a four-pronged approach to the crisis — improving conditions in camps, expanding the UNHCR’s ability to deal with any further refugees, assisting non-governmental organizations involved in dealing with the crisis, and encouraging refugees to return to their homes.

Returning refugees, however, faced minefields, a lack of educational facilities and ruined irrigation systems.

These problems would have to be dealt with under international plans to rebuild Afghanistan, which is estimated to cost $10 billion and may take three to four years to achieve, Grandi told Tanka.—Agencies