Japan is not planning to expand the Self-Defense Forces' refueling operations for the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan when it extends its logistic support plan by another six months in mid-November, Japanese sources said Friday.
Japan will carry out a one-time airlift operation under the extended support plan, transporting Thai troops to a country near Afghanistan, but it will withdraw the proposal of dispatching P-3C patrol aircraft equipped with advanced radar, the sources said.
Under the special law on antiterrorism measures, introduced in October last year, Japan compiled a six-month basic plan for measures to provide logistic support to the U.S.-led campaign.
Japan extended the plan by six months in May and plans to extend it again, by another six months, when it expires Nov. 19.