Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka on Monday suggested Japan may provide additional financial support to Pakistan as well as other countries bordering Afghanistan to help them deal with refugees from the conflict-torn country.
"As of now, the main area of our bilateral financial assistance is Pakistan. But I'm sure there will be deliberations in the Cabinet" on aiding other countries bordering Afghanistan, Tanaka told a news conference.
Her remarks came after the United States and Britain launched retaliatory air and missile strikes on Afghanistan on Sunday night, raising the probability that thousands of refugees will flee to such neighboring nations as Tajikistan and Iran.