70th Self-Defence Forces Day: Japan envoy pledges to further strengthen ties with Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Japan’s Ambassador-designate for Pakistan Akamatsu Shuichi on Wednesday said that Japan and Pakistan share a long-standing friendship, built on mutual respect and cooperation.

“Together, we can build a future that fosters mutual growth and understanding.” He was addressing the reception to commemorate 70th Japan Self-Defence Forces Day that was hosted by Takano Shuichi Charge d’Affaires on Wednesday evening. The upcoming envoy said that he feels very fortunate to have been appointed as the ambassador “to this wonderful country” and expressed his desire of working together to further strengthen the ties between Japan and Pakistan. Defense Attaché, Colonel ABE Kazuo, represented the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF). Defence Minister and central leader of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PMLN), Chairman PMLN Raja Muhammad Zafarul Haq, Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Parliamentary Secretary Defence Ms. Zaib Jafar, former KP chief minister Salim Saifullah, former Planning Commission chairman Jehanzaib Khan, Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori, former Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan, Federal Minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain, former NSA Lt. General (retd) Nasir Khan Janjua, former information minister Murtaza Solangi, former Senate leader of house Dr. Shahzad Waseem and former federal minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad were among the prominent guests. Air Marshal Muhammad Sarfraz, Deputy Chief of Air Staff, was the chief guest on the occasion. The reception was attended by military officials as well as ministers, parliamentarians, senior members of the government, members of the diplomatic community and other dignitaries from the public and private sectors. Takano said, “I am pleased to see the progress in defense exchanges and cooperation between Pakistan and Japan. I believe that the deepening of the exchanges and cooperation between Pakistan’s Armed Forces and the JSDF will lead to strengthening the Pakistan-Japan relations.” He announced that in February next year, the multilateral joint exercise “AMAN25” will be hosted by the Pakistan Navy. “Japan is participating in AMAN25. We regard it as an important exercise, contributing to the realisation of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” in cooperation with like-minded navies,” he said. In August this year, the Pakistan Navy PNS YARMOOK, together with Japan’s counter piracy enforcement unit, JS SAMIDARE, conducted a goodwill exercise in the Gulf of Oman that contributed to deterring pirate activities and ensuring the safe navigation of merchant vessels navigating in the Gulf of Oman. With regard to disaster relief cooperation, Takano mentioned that in the earthquake in 2005 and floods in 2010 in Pakistan, the JSDF dispatched helicopter units to transport relief supplies to the affected people as part of the Japan Disaster Relief Team.

He paid gratitude to the Pakistani people residing in Japan who had extended immense support to the Japanese people during the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011 by giving food and distributing relief supplies to the affected people. The JSDF Day was originally celebrated when the Japan Defense Agency (upgraded to the Ministry of Defense in 2007) and the JSDF were established on July 1, 1954, but the date has been changed to November 1 as the JSDF are expected to respond to natural disasters such as frequent typhoons in summer season in Japan.