ISLAMABAD, April 7: A Japanese official said on Thursday his country intended to resume the yen loan facility to Pakistan halted since 1988, but would like to share information about the Dr Khan nuclear network. Speaking at a news briefing here, Japanese foreign ministry spokesman Hatsuhisa Takashima said a formal announcement about resumption of the loan facility was expected to be made during Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi’s visit to Pakistan early next month.

He said Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura had told his Pakistani counterpart Khurshid Kasuri when they met on the sidelines of the ACD conference here that his country was intending to reopen the loan facility which was suspended over Islamabad’s nuclear tests.

He, however, added that as the yen loan facility was project-specific, there had to be some discussions and preparatory work between the two governments in this respect.

Mr Takashima said the loan facility would increase investment from Japanese companies significantly but added the timeframe of resumption and the size of assistance would have to be discussed at the official level.

He said the Japanese minister had also asked the Pakistani authorities to provide information about the activities of the Khan network, particularly its involvement in the nuclear programme of North Korea.

When asked about Pakistan’s response to the demand, Mr Takashima said the question should be referred to Mr Kasuri.

During the meeting, he said, Japan also discussed the proposed expansion of the UN Security Council, economic cooperation between the two countries and preferential and free trade arrangements.

Responding to a question, Mr Takashima said the Japan government had no concrete evidence regarding Dr Khan network’s involvement in the North Korean nuclear programme.