Indian Express

Express India

Screen

Loksatta

Express Cricket

Kashmir Live

Biz Publications
 
Make this your homepage | RSS


Japan threatens to slash Pakistan aid

Agencies

Posted: Tuesday, Nov 13, 2007 at 0000 hrs IST
Updated: Tuesday, Nov 13, 2007 at 0954 hrs IST


Font Size

Print

Feedback

Email

Discuss

Tokyo, November 13:: Major donor Japan warned on Tuesday it may cut aid to Pakistan after the military regime declared Emergency rule and placed a key opposition leaders under house arrest.

"I have concerns about the current situation in Pakistan. We've been considering increasing official development aid to Pakistan as the country was thought to be in the democratistion process and was making efforts in the 'war on terror'," said Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura.

"But we may have to examine carefully whether to increase the amount of aid at this point while closely watching the democratisation process in the country," he said.

Asked if Japan may cut its current aid to Pakistan, the foreign minister said, "We'll consider every option."

Pakistani military ruler Pervez Musharraf, facing a potential setback from the Supreme Court, declared a state of Emergency on November 3, which he said was necessary to fight Islamic militants.

His government on Monday placed former Prime Minister and opposition leader Benazir Bhutto under house arrest for the second time since she returned from exile last month.

Japan said last month it was considering boosting aid to both Pakistan and Afghanistan to assist the "war on terror" after Tokyo's military contribution, a naval mission providing fuel, was suspended due to domestic opposition.

Japan has been officially pacifist since World War II and relied on aid as its main foreign policy tool. But consecutive conservative-led governments have tried to increase Japan's military presence.

More from World News

Discuss this story on expressindia forums

Post Comments

Comments: (Limit 3,000 characters)
Name
Message
Email ID
Subject
TERMS OF USE:
The views, opinions and comments posted are your, and are not endorsed by this website. You shall be solely responsible for the comment posted here. The website reserves the right to delete, reject, or otherwise remove any views, opinions and comments posted or part thereof. You shall ensure that the comment is not inflammatory, abusive, derogatory, defamatory &/or obscene, or contain pornographic matter and/or does not constitute hate mail, or violate privacy of any person (s) or breach confidentiality or otherwise is illegal, immoral or contrary to public policy. Nor should it contain anything infringing copyright &/or intellectual property rights of any person(s).
I agree to the terms of use.

Comments
Flowers & Cakes DeliveryExpress Classifieds
Post and view free classifieds ad
Express Astrology
Know what's in the stars for you