Musharraf seeks debt cancellation from Japan

17th October, 2001.

President General Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday asked Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to cancel Pakistan's $5 billion debt to help the country fight terrorism in the U.S.-led coalition.

Kyodo news wire reported that Japanese side did not comment on the request made by Pakistani President as yet however it suggested that Japan had already showed its willingness about the matter.

Japan is a big aid provider to Pakistan and it recently approved emergency financial assistance for Pakistan to meet the crises in the region due to the terrorist attacks and US possible military action against Afghanistan.

Japan has also assured the government of Pakistan that it will extend every possible assistance to Islamabad to accommodate the influx of Afghan refugees that is expected will pour in the county after the US imminent attacks on Afghanistan. End.