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TOKYO, May 28 (Reuters) - Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf said on Tuesday he was ready to take steps to ease tension between his country and India, Jiji news agency quoted him as telling Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.

Musharraf was quoted as saying in a telephone conversation he wanted an easing of tension and Pakistan was ready to take steps towards that end, Jiji reported.

There was no indication of what steps he might take.

Koizumi told Musharraf to exercise restraint, and the Pakistani leader asked Japan to tell India to do the same, Jiji said.

"I asked him to use his leadership and exercise restraint so that war can be avoided. I told him that all of the international community is watching," Koizumi told reporters.

Koizumi also said he would talk with Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on Wednesday to ask the Indian leader to do everything he could to avoid war.

Japan, the biggest aid donor to both India and Pakistan, on Tuesday sent its vice foreign minister to the nuclear-armed neighbours in a bid to play its aid card to ease the tension.

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