Naveed Miraj and Shahid Qureshi
ISLAMABAD: Japan’s Embassy in Pakistan celebrated the 69th anniversary of Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) Day in Islamabad on Wednesday.
The Ambassador of Japan, WADA Mitsuhiro, and Mrs. WADA Naoko, hosted a reception at the embassy, which was attended by distinguished guests, including Lt Gen Sarfraz Ahmed, HI(M), as the chief guest, military officials, government ministers, parliamentarians, diplomats, and other notable figures from the public and private sectors. Defense Attaché, Colonel ABE Kazuo, represented the JSDF in the event.
During the reception, Ambassador WADA expressed his satisfaction with the evolving defense exchanges and cooperation between Japan and Pakistan. He emphasized that deepening ties and collaboration between the JSDF and Pakistan Armed Forces, alongside grassroots initiatives, would contribute to strengthening Japan-Pakistan relations.
Japan-Pakistan Defense Cooperation
Ambassador WADA highlighted significant events such as the Maritime Self-Defense Force’s participation in the multilateral joint exercise “AMAN23,” hosted by the Pakistani Navy. In August, the two countries co-hosted the Preparatory Meeting for the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial in Islamabad and the 9th Japan-Pakistan Security Dialogue held in Tokyo.
These interactions covered various issues, including foreign policy, security policy, and counter-terrorism measures.
In the realm of disaster relief, he mentioned the JSDF’s humanitarian contributions during the 2005 earthquake and 2010 floods in Pakistan.
Furthermore, the JSDF, in partnership with the Pakistan Armed Forces and NATO, conducted an airlift operation to aid Turkiye after a devastating earthquake, involving the transportation of tents and winter kits from Pakistan to Turkiye.
JSDF Day originally commemorated the establishment of the Japan Defense Agency (upgraded to the Ministry in 2007) and the JSDF on July 1, 1954. However, the date was later moved to November 1 to coincide with the JSDF’s preparedness for responding to natural disasters, particularly the frequent summer typhoons in Japan.
