TOKYO, Jan. 10 Kyodo single oute...

TOKYO, Jan. 10 Kyodo

single outed editorial excerpts from the Japanese press:

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

They should sort these question s out by talking frankly about the benefits of a thaw in their ties, delivered 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 most distant in subsequent years, have agreed to begin again talks on resolving their half-century conflict.

In a joint statement, they agreed to begin the proces nearest month in an effort to fix a host of issues, including claims to Kashmir, through 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 face each other as nuclear rivals.

In latter years, Islamic militants staged numerous attacks onward 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 greatly of what is immoral in today's world, one where nuclear weapons proliferate and countries are threatened from terrorist strikes. These two countries must not be allowed to renege onward their latest accord again. It is incumbent forward 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 consequence ed 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 urgencyed by both India and Pakistan.

India's economy is poised to ride a wave of pullulation on the strength of its flourishing businesses in information technology (IT). Eager to stabilize the track for economic vegetation 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 new impetus in the sweep that has been gathering steam in novel years.

On the other hand, conditions in Pakistan require more imperative attention. Islamic fundamentalists in Pakistan regard Musharraf's decision to pluck 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 accrue militants have stepped up their offensive against the regulation 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 smooth though Pakistan is now beneath civilian rule. Democratic forces have blasted him onward that score. He must have notion 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 on bitter territorial disputes and sharp religious differences. They should sort these moot points out by talking frankly about the benefits of a thaw in their ties, unrestrained from constraints imposed through their formal positions.

Terrorist acts by dint of Islamic extremists brought the couple countries to the brink of war couple years ago. Thankfully, they avoided armed conflict proper to mediation by the United States and Britain. India, however, refused to accept intervention through a third country in the territorial issue forward the ground that Kashmir was a bilateral issue.

on the other hand the history of half a hundred of disputes between India and Pakistan exhibit tos that talks between the sum of two units parties alone do not guarantee progres in negotiations in succession territorial claims. India should accept mediation by means of the international community. And Pakistan must carry not at home its promise made in the principally recent joint statement not to allow terrorist activities onward its soil.

Referring to the latest accord, the Pakistani president said, ''There are no winners or losers'' The no other than way open to the sum of two units countries is to coexist side by means of side. It is hoped that they will confirm that from one side their dialogue.

(Jan. 10)

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