Japan noncommittal on support to India-US N-deal

NEW DELHI (Agencies) - Japan’s Foreign Minister on Tuesday said Tokyo needed assurance a crucial nuclear accord between India and the United States will strengthen disarmament efforts after key talks here on the issue.

Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura and his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee discussed the pact, which would lift nuclear sanctions against India after it tested atomic weapons.

“We need to confirm that this nuclear cooperation agreement ... will not undermine disarmament efforts,” Komura told reporters after the talks.

The Japanese Minister also pressed India to sign the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT).

“Japan has been continuously requesting India to join the NPT and ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. This is something we will not change our position on and continue to ask India,” Komura said.