Japan to Lift India, Pakistan Sanctions FridayThe Japanese government plans to announce the lifting of economic sanctions against India and Pakistan on Friday, a government source said Tuesday night.The prospect came after Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi hinted earlier in the day of lifting economic sanctions imposed on Pakistan for conducting nuclear tests, in order to help the country fight terrorism. Japan froze all grants and yen-denominated loans to Pakistan and India after the two countries conducted tit-for-tat nuclear tests in 1998. The freeze excludes loans and grants for emergency and humanitarian aid. Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf called for the lifting of the sanctions in a telephone conversation with Koizumi last week, saying Pakistan needs economic aid to offset the negative economic impact of the terrorist attacks. Although Japan decided last month to provide $40 million to Pakistan to help the nation fight terrorism, it has maintained the freeze on any other aid. |
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