The initiation of Pakistan and Japan’s cordial relations can be traced back to the San Francisco Peace Conference of 1951, when Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Zafarullah Khan, strongly advocated for Japan to receive respectful treatment. During his speech, he emphasized that peace with Japan need not be based on revenge and oppression but should be built upon reconciliation and justice. Following the Peace Conference, diplomatic ties between the two countries were established on April 28, 1952. In 2022, Pakistan and Japan celebrated seventy years of their diplomatic relations.
Japan has provided developmental and economic assistance to Pakistan since 1954. In 1954, Japan initiated the provision of Official Development Assistance to Pakistan. According to the data of January 2022, Japan provided Pakistan with aid of JPY 1.35 trillion, equivalent to $11.7 billion, hence making Japan the second largest donor. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has provided development assistance since 1954 and has been a key performer in addressing Pakistan’s developmental challenges. It has heavily contributed to Pakistan’s health, education, gender, and disaster management sectors by initiating various projects.
JICA’s “Advancing Quality Alternative Learning Project” and “Project for Gender Responsive Actions to Ensure Retention through Community Engagement and School Practices” are good examples. The former focuses on supporting the government to improve its capacity for implementing non-formal government. In contrast, the latter focuses on enhancing community involvement in female education and capacity building for teachers and government officials. Since 2007, Japan has also built more than 300 schools, and over 300,000 children have been able to receive a formal education. Moreover, in the health sector, JICA has been strengthening the “basic healthcare system with a focus on maternal, newborn, and child health and infection control in primary healthcare settings“.
Similarly, as part of its ongoing assistance for Pakistan’s fight against polio, the Japanese government announced a $3.62 million grant to acquire critical oral polio vaccines this year. On the other hand, JICA has also been supporting structural and non-structural measures to prevent the risk of flood and assisting in establishing disaster-related organizations’ administrative systems. Therefore, the Japanese government and JICA have remarkably supported Pakistan’s development.
Pakistan and Japan have also adopted cultural diplomacy to strengthen their bilateral ties. The two nations in 1957, signed a Cultural Agreement with the intent of promoting their cultural connections. Following the agreement, cultural, sports, youth, and educational exchanges have progressively risen through public performances, exhibitions, and people-to-people exchanges. Pakistan-Japan Cultural Association serves as a significant example of this cultural cooperation. The association promotes bilateral relations between the two countries and collaborates with the Embassy and Consulate General of Japan in Islamabad and Karachi to organize cultural events.
Similarly, the Pakistan-Japan Friendship Forum (PJFF) was launched in 2018, strengthening the public ties between both nations. Another example is the Pakistan-Japan Literature Forum, which aims to promote Pak-Japan cultural and literary exchanges. Furthermore, establishing the Japanese Department at the National University of Modern Languages and the yearly Japanese government scholarships have also played a prominent role in promoting educational and cultural exchanges. Therefore, cultural diplomacy has been an essential tool for strengthening Pak-Japan ties.
Furthermore, Tokyo and Islamabad have also made collective efforts to foster global peace and security. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed on defence cooperation and exchanges in 2019 following the 10th round of military-to-military talks. Pakistan and Japan have previously conducted security talks and discussions on security policy and regional and international challenges. Similarly, in September 2023, during the 9th Pakistan-Japan Security Dialogue, officials from both sides touched upon a range of bilateral, regional, and international matters of mutual interest. The friendly relations between Pakistan and Japan and the possibility of increased defence cooperation were highlighted. Thus, the Pak-Japan Security Dialogue is a significant platform for discussing perspectives on multiple security and defence matters of mutual interest.
The July 2023 visit of Pakistan’s foreign minister, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, to Japan, was a diplomatic milestone for Pakistan as it sought to strengthen bilateral ties with a key Asia-Pacific player. This visit signalled a renewed focus on enhancing bilateral relations and promoting economic cooperation between Islamabad and Tokyo. The meetings with Japan’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister aimed to promote bilateral economic and trade ties while also exploring prospects for collaboration in innovation, technology, and education. These interactions also sought to encourage labour migration cooperation and create further opportunities for Pakistani labourers to contribute to Japan’s economy when Japan’s population and workforce have been experiencing a decline due to declining birth rates. Consequently, it paved the way for increased future bilateral cooperation.
Japan and Pakistan have maintained a stable relationship since the beginning. Both nations have significant potential to strengthen their ties through increased exchanges in areas such as trade, culture, education, and people-people interaction. Such efforts create the path for greater cooperation in the future. Moreover, Japan has also expressed a keen interest in providing developmental support to Pakistan. Japan, one of the world’s advanced economies, has been providing significant support to Pakistan’s weaker economy. A supportive partner like Japan, as a result, can play a vital role in helping Pakistan overcome economic challenges and strengthen its economy. Therefore, there is hope for Japan and Pakistan to contribute to the prosperity of their countries while deepening their bilateral connections.