ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (Diya TV) — Pakistan said it lodged a formal diplomatic protest with Japan over language in a recent India-Japan joint statement that condemned “cross-border terrorism from Pakistan” and called for action against Pakistan-based militant groups.
A Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson confirmed the démarche during a weekly press briefing Thursday. A démarche is a formal communication governments use to raise objections or concerns with another country.
The protest concerns a joint statement issued after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the 16th Japan-India Annual Summit in New Delhi on July 2.
In the document, the two leaders condemned terrorism and violent extremism in all forms, including what they described as cross-border terrorism originating from Pakistan. They also called for coordinated action against United Nations-listed organizations, including Lashkar-e-Tayyiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, as well as their affiliated groups.
The statement condemned the April 22, 2025, attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, and cited a United Nations Security Council monitoring report that mentioned The Resistance Front. It also condemned a November 2025 incident in Delhi and called for those responsible for terrorist attacks to face justice.
The joint statement did not directly accuse Pakistan’s government of organizing either attack. It separately referred to terrorism “from Pakistan” and called for measures against militant organizations, their financing networks, safe havens and cross-border movements.
Pakistan rejected that language as one-sided. The Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Islamabad had repeatedly raised concerns with Japan through diplomatic channels and described the latest protest as a “strong démarche.”
The spokesperson accused India of pressuring countries to include references to Pakistan in bilateral statements. That allegation represents Pakistan’s position; neither India nor Japan addressed it in the joint document.
Pakistan also argued that the statement failed to acknowledge the country’s losses and actions in the fight against terrorism. Islamabad has long maintained that it has suffered extensive civilian and military casualties from militant violence and has conducted major counterterrorism operations within its territory.
According to the Pakistani spokesperson, Japanese officials said the summit language did not represent a change in Japan’s policy toward Pakistan. Japan had not publicly issued a separate statement confirming that assurance or responding to the démarche as of Thursday.
Pakistan said it would continue engaging with Japan through established diplomatic consultations. The government did not announce plans to recall its ambassador, reduce diplomatic relations or suspend cooperation with Tokyo.
Japan’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that Takaichi visited India from July 1 through July 3 and held approximately 90 minutes of talks with Modi. The two governments issued several agreements covering defense, economic security, artificial intelligence, energy and other areas.
The terrorism language appeared near the end of the 12-page summit statement. Japan and India also discussed maritime security, North Korea, the Middle East, Ukraine, supply chains and cooperation through the Quad, which includes Australia and the United States.
Lashkar-e-Tayyiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed appear on the United Nations Security Council’s sanctions list connected to the Islamic State and Al-Qaida sanctions regime. The United Nations describes both as Pakistan-based organizations. Their inclusion subjects listed entities to measures that can include asset freezes, travel restrictions and arms embargoes.
India has linked Lashkar-e-Tayyiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed to multiple attacks against Indian targets. Pakistan officially bans both organizations and says it acts against terrorism under its domestic laws and international obligations. India has repeatedly argued that Pakistan has not taken sufficient action against militant infrastructure, an accusation Islamabad disputes.
The diplomatic protest comes as Japan and India expand their security partnership. During the July summit, the two countries agreed to deepen naval cooperation, defense technology projects and strategic coordination in the Indo-Pacific.
Japan also maintains diplomatic and economic relations with Pakistan. The Pakistani spokesperson described those ties as long-standing and cordial and said both countries share an interest in international peace, stability and development.
The two governments have not announced whether Japan will formally respond to Pakistan’s protest. The dispute currently remains confined to diplomatic exchanges, with Islamabad saying it intends to continue consultations with Tokyo.
