On November 1, 2023, Ambassador of Japan to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, WADA Mitsuhiro, and WADA Naoko hosted a reception to commemorate the 69th anniversary of the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) Day. Colonel ABE Kazuo, representing the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF), attended the event at the Embassy. Lt Gen Sarfraz Ahmed, HI(M), graced the occasion as the chief guest.
The reception saw the presence of military officials, as well as Ministers, parliamentarians, senior members of the Government of Pakistan, members of the diplomatic community, and other esteemed dignitaries from the public and private sectors.
Ambassador WADA, in his address, expressed his satisfaction with the progress in defense exchanges and cooperation between Japan and Pakistan. He highlighted the significance of deepening exchanges and cooperation between the JSDF and Pakistan Armed Forces, along with grassroots collaboration, in fortifying Japan-Pakistan relations.
Recent collaborative efforts include the participation of the Maritime Self-Defense Force in the multilateral joint exercise “AMAN23” hosted by the Pakistani Navy in February. In August, both countries jointly hosted the Preparatory Meeting for the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial in Islamabad. Additionally, in September, the 9th Japan-Pakistan Security Dialogue took place in Tokyo, addressing various issues such as foreign policy, security policy, and counter-terrorism measures.
The JSDF has been actively involved in disaster relief efforts, such as dispatching a helicopter unit to transport relief supplies and assist affected individuals during the 2005 earthquake and the 2010 floods in Pakistan. Earlier this year, in cooperation with the Pakistan Armed Forces and NATO, the JSDF conducted an airlift operation to aid the people of Türkiye affected by a devastating earthquake, transporting tents and winter kits from Pakistan to Türkiye.
Guests at the reception also had the opportunity to savor Japanese cuisine and enjoy a Japanese kendo performance presented by the Embassy staff.
JSDF Day was initially observed on July 1, 1954, when the Japan Defense Agency (later upgraded to the Ministry in 2007) and the JSDF were established. However, the date was subsequently changed to November 1 to align with the JSDF’s readiness to respond to natural disasters, particularly the frequent typhoons during the summer season in Japan.
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.