New Delhi: Citing Pakistan's belligerence on the nuclear issue, India on January 8 rejected Japan's plea to join the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) even as the two countries agreed to move forward as strategic global partners.

During the talks visiting Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi had with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and other leaders, it was conveyed that India was for total elimination of nuclear arsenal and would stick to its commitment of a moratorium on further nuclear tests.

Kawaguchi, who also met External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha and National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra, was told that India has to keep in mind the nuclear capabilities of Pakistan and repeated threats in this respect given by its leaders.

Significantly, Japan announced ending a four-year freeze on overseas development assistance (ODA) enforced in the wake of the May 1998 Pokhran nuclear tests and extended $ 900 million under it for developmental projects.

"I look forward eagerly to India's early signature to the CTBT, in order that two nations can work co-operatively for nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation," Kawaguchi said at a Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI)- organised met.

She said Japan urged India and other countries to join the NPT regime, which was the cornerstone of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.

Welcoming India's "courageous decision" to redeploy its forces away from the border with Pakistan, she said, "I strongly hope that even more positive steps will be taken to lead to early resumption of dialogue between the two sides."

PTI