ISLAMABAD, Oct 1: Japan has reiterated that India and Pakistan should resume dialogue for the resolution of outstanding issues.

“We are genuinely concerned about the risk of armed conflict between India and Pakistan escalating into the dangerous spiral and will continue to appeal to both sides for self-restraint, de-escalation of tension and the resumption of dialogue,” said Japanese Ambassador to Pakistan Sadaaki Numata while addressing a farewell reception hosted in his honour by the English Speaking Union of Pakistan (ESUP) - Islamabad Chapter.

Highlighting the strategic importance of Pakistan, he said, it is in the unique position of straddling both Asia and the Middle East and is a major player among the Islamic countries.

As such, its influence as a moderate Islamic nation will be of even greater importance to the world.

Pakistan’s coastal sea, the Arabian Sea, stretches out to the Indian Ocean. This is a part of the sea-lane linking the Middle East and Japan. For Japan, which is scarcely endowed with natural resources, especially energy resources, this sea-lane is of vital strategic importance.

Referring to the situation arising following Sept 11, 2001, he said, the Pakistani leadership took right decisions in the right direction.

President Musharraf brought Pakistan back to the international fold as an important player by joining the international community in fight against terrorism. “We see Pakistan as an important partner in this common fight,” he said.

The leadership of Pakistan is also fighting three battles, the first of them is dealing with the heightened tension with India. The second is fighting the increased threat of terrorism. The third is to continue to implement the ongoing economic and social reforms and achieve political stability.

“No one would envy President Musharraf for having to fight these three battles at the same time,” he said.

Pakistan needs to undertake and sustain fundamental and far-reaching reforms, and Japan and other members of the international community should help, he said.

The genuine desire of the Japanese people to help the people of Pakistan in their economic and social development has been reflected in the fact that the cumulative total of Japan’s development has been reflected in the fact that the cumulative total of Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) to Pakistan, which started with a yen loan of 7.2 billion yen ($ 20 million) in 1961, amounted on net disbursement basis through 1999 to $ 4 billion, comprising $ 2.7 billion loans, $ 1 billion grants, and technical cooperation worth $ 200 million. Japan continued to be the top bilateral donor to Pakistan throughout the 1990s.

We have concentrated our efforts on those issues that directly affect the daily lives of the people of Pakistan, namely, waste disposal, and air and water pollution in densely populated urban areas.

In November last year, we pledged to extend $300 million grant over the two-year period since September 2000 for the purpose of poverty reduction in such areas as health and education.

Poverty reduction is no doubt the highest immediate priority.

Secondly, Pakistan’s human resources need to be fully mobilized, utilized and maintained for development.

Thirdly, there is a need to transform Pakistan’s industrial structure. The economy would remain static if the industrial sector continued to grow only at about the same rate as the agricultural sector, which has averaged about 4 per cent due to constraints such as the water problem.

Fourthly and more fundamentally, there is the excessive discrepancy between the rich and the poor. If those in a position of privilege continue to derive benefit from the status quo, sound economic growth may be hard to come by.

Lastly, through all these, education must come first. There is no case in history that a country has achieved sustainable development with illiterate people.

President ESUP - Islamabad Chapter, Sadiq N.K. Awan, in his address of welcome eulogized the services of the Japanese envoy. —APP