 In an effort to consolidate further Pakistan-Japan ties, Prime Minister Benazir undertook an official visit to Japan in January 1996 to hold talks with her counterpart, Ryutaro Hashimoto, who eschewed from the complicated Pakistan-India issues especially after nuclear developments in South Asia.Japan wanted that both Pakistan and India should sign the anti-nuclear treaties.Following Pakistan’s nuclear detonation on 28 May 1998, Japan placed economic sanctions on Pakistan.