Amid Pak’s reckless missile tests, Japan backs India’s war on terror

Defence minister Rajnath Singh with his Japanese counterpart Gen Nakatani during the latter’s ceremonial reception, at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi.

NEW DELHI: Pakistan is continuing with its state policy of fuelling cross-border terrorism through state and non-state proxies, and attacks like Pahalgam destabilise and jeopardise regional peace and security, defence minister Rajnath Singh told his Japanese counterpart General Nakatani on Monday.
With Pakistan on Saturday testing the 450-km Abdali ballistic missile system in a reckless, escalatory and provocative move, the delegation-level meeting saw India also point to Pakistan’s active role in nuclear and missile proliferation, which is a source of insecurity and instability for countries around the world, sources told TOI.
The meeting saw both sides condemn “terrorism in all its forms” and emphasised the need for enhanced global cooperation and joint efforts to counter cross-border threats. “Nakatani San expressed solidarity with India in the wake of the Pahalgam attack and offered full support to India,” Singh said.
While the two ministers also reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen the defence and security pillars of their bilateral ‘special strategic and global partnership’ and contribute towards regional peace, the major focus was on terrorism and Pakistan’s role in promoting it.
Singh condemned Pakistan’s state policy of cross-border terrorism against India, perpetrated through state and non-state actors. He called for a unified stand against terrorism and the “state-sponsored actions that perpetuate it”.
Sources said the Indian side stressed that “everyone needs to be mindful of the fact that terrorists coming out of terror training factories in Pakistan” have committed attacks in several countries.
Gen Nakatani, on his part, said terrorism could not be justified on any grounds, and Japan remained determined to resolutely fight the menace jointly with the international community, including India. He also expressed hope the countries concerned would take responsible actions for the sake of peace and stability in South Asia. On the proliferation front, China has played a major role in facilitating the clandestine network that has enabled Pakistan and North Korea to progressively strengthen their nuclear and ballistic missile arsenals.
India and Japan have full strategic convergence on China’s aggressive expansionist moves in the Indo-Pacific region, and along with the other ‘Quad’ countries of the US and Australia have openly declared their intent to deter any coercion in the region. Japan regularly takes part in the top-tier Malabar naval exercise, which began as a bilateral exercise between India and the US in 1992 but now includes all four ‘Quad’ countries.
The two also conduct the Dharma Guardian exercise between their armies, JIMEX between navies and Veer Guardian between air forces, and have also operationalised their reciprocal military logistics pact. “The ministers welcomed the growing diversity and frequency of defence exercises and exchanges, and concurred to enhance the scope and complexity of these engagements. They agreed to add new dimensions to the robust bilateral maritime cooperation,” an official said. Singh also outlined the capability of the Indian defence industry, particularly its potential to collaborate with Japan on new areas like tank engines and aero engines. Both sides agreed to enhance industrial cooperation, including exploring collaboration in niche domains such as automation and AI, as also take forward the collaboration in emerging areas like cyber and space.