Relationship dossier
Japan
Pakistan
Relationship assessment
Development assistance and disaster relief underpin generally cooperative Japan–Pakistan relations, alongside past friction over Pakistan’s nuclear tests.
Japan toward Pakistan
+35Japan has provided Pakistan with development assistance, including official development assistance and emergency relief after major disasters. Japan also imposed sanctions following Pakistan’s 1998 nuclear tests, creating a period of bilateral friction.
Pakistan toward Japan
+20Pakistan sent relief supplies to Japan after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, providing concrete assistance in response to the disaster.
Overall relationship
+25The relationship has a durable cooperative foundation in Japanese development assistance and disaster relief, but it is not a close strategic partnership. Japan’s sanctions after Pakistan’s 1998 nuclear tests were a notable source of friction.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Japan and Pakistan maintain generally cooperative relations, including Japanese development assistance and reciprocal disaster relief. Japan has provided Pakistan with development and emergency assistance, while Pakistan sent relief supplies to Japan after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Japan’s response to Pakistan’s 1998 nuclear tests also involved sanctions, reflecting a significant period of friction.
Areas of tension
- Japan’s sanctions on Pakistan following its 1998 nuclear tests.
Key developments
Japan imposed sanctions on Pakistan following Pakistan’s nuclear tests.
Pakistan sent relief supplies to Japan after the earthquake and tsunami.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and implementation of current bilateral development and economic cooperation are unclear.
- The extent of continuing security and diplomatic cooperation is uncertain.