University students have been performing an antinuclear drama in Tokyo in the Urdu language that they hope will persuade people in India and Pakistan to urge their governments to abandon nuclear arms.

The play, performed by a theater group at the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, is titled "Hadashi no Gen" ("Barefoot Gen"). It is based on the well-known comic book series that tells the story of a boy who survived the U.S. atomic bombing of Hiroshima.

The drama portrays the life of a boy named Gen, before and after the horrific explosion in 1945.

The troupe has already performed the play in Urdu, Pakistan's national language, in 10 Indian cities in August and September.

Agha Masood Hussain, a former information minister for Pakistan's Sindh Province and now a journalist, said he was impressed by the play. "This play can change the minds of people who do not want to abandon nuclear weapons. I am convinced the play can help make the two countries scrap (their) nuclear programs," he said. "I want young people in Pakistan to watch it."

Hussain told the students he will do his utmost to bring the play to his home country of Pakistan.

"Mr. Hussain's support will be of much help in realizing a performance in his country in view of the expected difficulties involved in sponsoring an antinuclear event there," said Yutaka Asada, an assistant professor at the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies and leader of the student group.

India and Pakistan both conducted nuclear tests in 1998, drawing severe criticism from the international community.