An advance government team left Narita airport for Pakistan on Saturday to prepare for the dispatch of Air Self-Defense Forces aircraft to transport relief supplies to refugees fleeing neighboring Afghanistan.
The team consists of a dozen officials from the Defense Agency, the ASDF, the Foreign Ministry and the International Peace Cooperation Headquarters, which deals with international peacekeeping operations.
The team will inspect airports to be used by ASDF C-130 transport planes, runways and refueling and radio facilities, as well as gather information on security conditions, government officials said.