Responding to calls by the United Nations for financial assistance to the people of Afghanistan, Japan announced Thursday that it is ready to provide up to $120 million to the U.N. in preparation for the "worst-case scenario in the coming six months."

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said the $120 million would cover 20 percent of the $584 million sought by U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan for the war-ravaged nation. On Sept. 27, Annan launched the appeal to shore up U.N. humanitarian effort for some 7.5 million Afghans, including those seeking shelter in neighboring states and expected to need emergency aid to survive.

Separately, Tokyo will directly provide the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees with $6 million to meet the emergency request.

The amount will account for 20 percent of the $29 million being sought by the UNHCR for its humanitarian relief operations in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks in the United States and any U.S. retaliatory action.

Fukuda explained that the 20 percent yardstick was adopted as Japan covers 20 percent of the U.N. budget.

As for Tokyo's bilateral assistance to Pakistan, where hordes of Afghan refugees are seeking shelter, Fukuda announced that Tokyo will -- on top of the 4.7 billion yen grant in aid announced on Sept, 21 -- unconditionally provide another 3 billion yen to Islamabad.

In addition, $7.5 million (or about 900 million yen) will be granted to Pakistan to help it deal with Afghan refugees, the top government spokesman said. He added that Tokyo will also reschedule Pakistan's debt payments to Tokyo, which amount to 6.46 million yen.

Meanwhile, Fukuda said Air Self-Defense Force cargo planes carrying relief materials will leave Komaki Air Base in Nagoya on Saturday and arrive in Pakistan on Tuesday.

More than five C-130H cargo planes will be dispatched to airlift tents, blankets and other relief items for Afghan refugees in Pakistan at the request of the UNHCR.

Powell calls on Japan

WASHINGTON (Kyodo) U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell expressed hope Wednesday that Japan will provide financial and other assistance to help reconstruct Afghanistan if the Taliban is removed from power.

"I think the Japanese government will be in a position to play an important role in hopefully supporting a government in Afghanistan eventually, which represents all of the people in Afghanistan," Powell said in an interview with seven foreign media organizations.

"And that is where I think the Japanese government may well be able to make its most significant contribution -- stabilizing that country, giving people hope, helping them to get on with their lives, in peace and security without the threat of oppression."

Powell made the comments in response to a question about possible Japanese contributions in the event of the Taliban's rule collapsing as a result of the U.S. military campaign against terrorism.

The United States has threatened military action against the Taliban if it fails to hand over Osama bin Laden and members of his al-Qaeda network, which it says was behind the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the U.S.

Bin Laden, a Saudi-born Islamic militant, is believed to be under the protection of the Taliban.

Powell welcomed Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's plan to dispatch the Self-Defense Forces to give logistic support in the event of U.S. military action.

"He went further with respect to offering the assets of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces and other institutions of the Japanese government than perhaps any previous prime minister has done," Powell said.