``Japan is at a stage of beginning considerations'' for easing sanctions imposed on Pakistan after its nuclear tests as it ``badly needs financial support from the IMF,'' Obuchi said shortly before his election as the president of ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to become the country's next Prime Minister on July 30. With regard to India, the 61-year-old Obuchi said, its ``economic conditions are relatively better... I have not heard voices on India'' for resumption of aid. Japan, India's largest official development assistance (ODA) donor, had frozen aid worth 26 million US dollars after the Pokhran tests in may last. A Japanese foreign ministry spokesman later said Tokyo would join the other nations in Group of 8 (G-8) for easing economicsanctions against Pakistan in terms of international loans.

Although Pakistan is not a member of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), Islamabad should be heard at the forum's Manila meet beginning on July 27, Obuchi said while expressing apprehensions regarding India's objection to the issue. However, only the ASEAN, and not its dialogue partners like Japan, India, China, Russia or the US, can send an invitation to Islamabad. ASEAN's own view on the subject is not known as yet. Spokesman Sadaaki Numata clarified that Japan's support for fresh IMF loans to Pakistan would not lead to Tokyo relaxing its own sanctions against Islamabad.

Japan, the only nation to suffer the horrors of atomic bomb strikes, has led the anti-nuclear test protest by announcing economic sanctions on New Delhi and Islamabad.