Japanese Initiative on Pakistan Welcome

Lisa Curtis / February 17, 2009

When Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visits Japan this week, one of the main topics of conversation will be developments in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Japan has played an important role in contributing to efforts to stabilize and secure South Asia over the last seven years. Washington should welcome a more robust Japanese role in the region and strongly support Tokyo’s plan to hold an international donor’s meeting on Pakistan (possibly in March) to help raise funds for the cash-strapped economy.

Japan has already played a helpful role in Afghanistan, despite the unpopularity of the war back home. Tokyo replenished support to the Japanese maritime self-defense force in the Indian Ocean, and recently increased aid to Afghanistan and Pakistan by $300 million to deal with food shortages and to support upcoming elections in Afghanistan.

Washington needs to work more closely with key allies like Japan to help stabilize Pakistan, which faces numerous challenges ranging from battling Taliban militants in its northwest to an economic crisis that threatens to bankrupt the country. Working more closely with other countries to influence events in Pakistan can help reduce animus toward the U.S., which is widely viewed as dictating policy toward the 165-million strong nuclear-armed Muslim nation. On the other hand, a recent poll showed that 53 percent of Pakistanis believe Japan has a positive influence on the world. Tokyo should take advantage of this good will it has from Pakistanis to become more involved in efforts to bolster economic and social development in the country. (more…)