TOKYO, Jan. 10 Kyodo chosened ed...

TOKYO, Jan. 10 Kyodo

chosened editorial excerpts from the Japanese press:

COEXISTENCE solitary WAY (IHT/Asahi as translated from the Japanese-language Asahi Shimbun's editorial published Jan. 9)

They should sort these moot points out by talking frankly about the benefits of a thaw in their ties, exempt from constraints imposed by their formal positions.

Encouragingly, the leaders of India and Pakistan, which have fought three wars since their independence and fiercely squared not on in subsequent years, have agreed to take back talks on resolving their half-century conflict.

In a joint statement, they agreed to begin the proces nearest month in an effort to decide a host of issues, including claims to Kashmir, by dint of peaceful means.

This is not the first time that India and Pakistan have vowed to talk. In the past, they repeatedly broke their promises. Now they bring into the presence of each other as nuclear rivals.

In newly come years, Islamic militants staged numerous attacks forward Parliament and other targets in India, leading to swift denunciations according to Delhi of Islamabad's ''support'' for them.

Relations between India and Pakistan epitomize a great deal of of what is sinful in today's world, one where nuclear weapons proliferate and countries are threatened by means of terrorist strikes. These two countries must not be allowed to renege in succession their latest accord again. It is incumbent upon them, and the international community at large, to make secure the talks go ahead.

The meeting between Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Pakistani President Gen Pervez Musharraf ensueed from an overture from Musharraf as Vajpayee was visiting Islamabad to attend a summit meeting of southern Asian leaders. A relaxation of tensions is badly privationed by both India and Pakistan.

India's economy is poised to ride a wave of putting out on the strength of its flourishing businesses in information technology (IT). Eager to stabilize the track for economic germination India embarked on a series of negotiations to reach free-trade agreements with Southeast Asian countries while improving ties with China. It clearly is also eager to make a indentation in its hostile relations with Pakistan and views the upcoming talks as an opportunity for in good condition impetus in the incline that has been gathering steam in novel years.

On the other hand, conditions in Pakistan require more pressing attention. Islamic fundamentalists in Pakistan regard Musharraf's decision to contest the plug on the Taliban regime in Afghanistan to join the United States in its fight against terrorism as a ''betrayal'' of compatriots. As a terminate militants have stepped up their offensive against the restraint Last month, two attempts were made in succession Musharraf's life.

Musharraf, who took power in a military coup doubles as president and army chief of staff equal though Pakistan is now in a less degree than civilian rule. Democratic forces have blasted him in succession that score. He must have reflection the only way to stabilize his direction was to clearly demonstrate a confrontational attitude against terrorists and improve relations with India.

India and Pakistan are divided by the agency of bitter territorial disputes and sharp religious differences. They should sort these question s out by talking frankly about the benefits of a thaw in their ties, independent from constraints imposed on their formal positions.

Terrorist acts through Islamic extremists brought the pair countries to the brink of war sum of two units years ago. Thankfully, they avoided armed conflict fit to mediation by the United States and Britain. India, however, refused to accept intervention by the agency of a third country in the territorial issue upon the ground that Kashmir was a bilateral issue.

still the history of half a hundred years of disputes between India and Pakistan point outs that talks between the pair parties alone do not guarantee progres in negotiations forward territorial claims. India should accept mediation from the international community. And Pakistan must carry public its promise made in the greatest in number recent joint statement not to allow terrorist activities forward its soil.

Referring to the latest accord, the Pakistani president said, ''There are no winners or losers'' The alone way open to the pair countries is to coexist side by means of side. It is hoped that they will confirm that by the agency of their dialogue.

(Jan. 10)

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