Source:
The Yomiuri ShimbunThe government will not expand the role of the Self-Defense Forces in and around Afghanistan by sending SDF personnel to the country due to the worsening security situation there, it was learned Thursday.
According to sources, many lawmakers from junior coalition partner New Komeito have expressed concern on the matter. Additionally, the government judged it would be difficult to come to agreement with New Komeito and others because of the current security situation in Afghanistan, which has rapidly worsened with a spate of recent insurgent attacks.
The government and the ruling coalition parties were considering sending SDF personnel to Afghanistan ahead of the expiration of the new Antiterrorism Law in January 2009.
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The bolstering of the SDF's activities would have been undertaken to show Japan's proactive stance toward restoring peace in Afghanistan, a matter of major concern to the international community. The government sent a fact-finding team to the country in June.
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http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/world/20080719TDY02303.htm