New Delhi, Aug 24 — The Japanese Prime Minister, Mr Yashiro Mori, today urged India to sign the comprehensive test ban treaty (CTBT) for amicable bilateral ties.

“I strongly expect India’s early signature to the CTBT in order that we can take initiatives together for nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation and further promote our amicable relations”, Mr Mori said in his special address at the India-Japan global partnership meet organised by FICCI here.

By taking such steps, the Japanese Prime Minister said “India will win due respect and praise from the international community as a responsible nation.” Justifying the economic “measures” imposed by his country on India following the May 1998 nuclear test, he said “the test came as a bolt from the blue to the Japanese people to whom India was well known as a peace-loving nation in pursuit of disarmament.”

Explaining that these measures were not “economic sanctions”, Mr Mori asked India to understand the sentiments of the Japanese people who had experienced the disaster of atomic bombs and their desire for non-proliferation and elimination of nuclear weapons.

Condemning terrorism in all forms, he said: “There can be no justification for terrorist acts, no matter what the reasons may be”.

Mr Mori said he had asked Pakistan’s military ruler, General Pervez Musharraf, to control terrorism and create an environment conducive for resumption of talks with India.

Referring to the Kashmir issue, he said efforts to resolve problems of any kind through dialogue must not be abandoned. “We can attain understanding by another party and overcome conflict through dialogue,” he added.