Citing Pakistan's belligerence on the nuclear issue, India on Wednesday rejected Japan's plea to join the Non-Proliferation Treaty and sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty even as the two countries agreed to move forward as strategic global partners.

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi who visited India had talks with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha and National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra and other leaders.

It was conveyed to Kawaguchi that India is for the total elimination of nuclear arsenals and would stick to its commitment of a moratorium on further nuclear tests, but the country has to keep in mind the nuclear capabilities of Pakistan and repeated threats from Islamabad.

Japan announced the ending a four-year freeze on Overseas Development Assistance enforced in the wake of the May 1998 Pokhran nuclear tests and extended US$ 900 million under it for developmental projects.

"I look forward eagerly to India's early signature to the CTBT, in order that the two nations can work cooperatively for nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation," Kawaguchi said at a meeting organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers and Commerce and Industry.

Welcoming India's "courageous decision" to re-deploy its forces away from the border with Pakistan, she said,  "I strongly hope that more positive steps will be taken to lead early resumption of dialogue between the two sides."

Japan is also pressing Pakistan to put a permanent end to infiltration across the Line of Control, she said.

Stressing on the need to ease out tension on the Indo-Pak border, she said, "Indo-Pak war fear is adversely affecting the Indian economy and improved relations are vital for making Indian market more attractive for investors."

Japanese foreign ministry spokesman Hatsuhisa Takashima said that Kawaguchi told her Indian interlocutors that Japan recognised the difference of views with India on the NPT and CTBT.

He said the talks were "very intensive, full of content and quite meaningful" with emphasis on further consolidating the strategic dialogue as global partners.

Terming as "quite disturbing" the reported Pakistan-North Korea nuclear axis, he said if correct this would have "grave implications" for Japan's bilateral relations with Islamabad.

EXTERNAL LINKS:

Non-Proliferation Treaty

Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty

India & Pakistan Nuclear Tests and the Test Ban Treaty

Federation of Indian Chambers and Commerce and Industry