Pakistan has formally protested to Japan after a recent India-Japan joint statement included a reference to cross-border terrorism. Islamabad accused New Delhi of influencing Tokyo to adopt what it called a “one-sided” position on the issue.
Pakistan's Foreign Ministry revealed the protest during its weekly media briefing. The objection followed a joint statement issued during Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s visit to India.
India and Japan Reaffirm Anti-Terror Cooperation
In their joint statement, India and Japan reaffirmed their commitment to fighting terrorism in all its forms. The two countries also stressed the need to hold the perpetrators, organisers and financiers of cross-border terrorism accountable. The reference prompted a strong reaction from Pakistan, which rejected the wording and said it did not reflect the actual situation.
Pakistan Lodges Formal Diplomatic Protest
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrab said Pakistan conveyed its concerns to Japan through diplomatic channels. He confirmed that Islamabad submitted a formal démarche over the language used in the India-Japan joint statement.
“We have been conveying our concerns to Japan through diplomatic channels. Whenever there is an engagement with India, India forces the inclusion of such references in its joint statements, not just with Japan but also with other countries,” Andrab said.
Pakistan Rejects the Statement's Language
Andrab said the statement ignored Pakistan's efforts in fighting terrorism. He accused India of influencing the wording of joint statements issued with its international partners. “The Japanese government’s endorsement of such one-sided formulations ignores the undeniable contribution and sacrifices made by Pakistan. We have indicated that such language is inconsistent with the facts on the ground,” he said. Pakistan has repeatedly denied allegations linking it to cross-border terrorism and has rejected similar references made in international statements.
Japan Assures Pakistan of Unchanged Policy
Despite the disagreement, Pakistan said its relationship with Japan remains unchanged. According to Andrab, Japanese officials assured Islamabad that Tokyo's policy towards Pakistan had not changed after the diplomatic protest.
“We were assured by the Japanese side that there is no shift in Japan’s policy towards Pakistan. We have a number of institutionalised mechanisms in our bilateral relations, and through regular consultations, any issues between the two countries are brought up,” he said. Pakistan said both countries would continue discussing differences through existing diplomatic channels.
Pakistan Accuses India of Influencing Partner Countries
Andrab also accused India of pressuring friendly countries to include references against Pakistan in joint statements. “We would not want Japan to be swayed by the pressures that India exerts to include such mala fide references against Pakistan in joint statements or other documents,” he said.
Diplomatic Disagreement Highlights Long-Running Dispute
The latest episode reflects Pakistan's growing concern over references to cross-border terrorism in India's joint statements with strategic partners. India has consistently sought stronger international backing for its position on terrorism during bilateral and multilateral engagements. Pakistan, however, has continued to reject allegations connecting it to cross-border terrorism and has opposed language that it believes unfairly targets the country.