Islamabad, Dec 27 (IANS): Pakistan Friday was cautious in reaction to the Japanese prime minister's controversial visit to the World War II related Yasukuni shrine, which drew strong opposition from neighbouring countries, a foreign ministry statement showed.

Responding to a query about Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe's visit to Yasukuni, the Pakistan foreign ministry stated that countries should refrain from actions that hurt the sentiments of other countries in the region and evoke reactions that could jeopardize regional harmony, reported Xinhua.

"It is our hope that issues of the past that create tensions would not be resurrected and spirit of cooperation will prevail," the foreign ministry spokesperson said.

Shinzo Abe visited the war-linked Yasukuni shrine Thursday. It was the first time in seven years that a sitting Japanese prime minister visited the shrine where 14 of the Japanese soldiers tried by the allied countries for war crimes are interred. Former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi paid a visit in August 2006.

The visit by Abe triggered strong opposition from neighbouring countries, such as China and South Korea.