NATO welcomes Japan's contribution to Afghanistan despite ending of refueling mission

The military spokesman for NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) on Wednesday said that Japan's commitments to Afghanistan are welcomed by allies, but refused to comment on whether the ending of a Japanese refueling mission would deter ISAF's mission.

"Japan's commitments to Afghanistan in terms of good governance and development are appreciated not only by the government of Afghanistan but also by the international community," Gen. Eric Tremblay told a joint press conference with Afghan Defense Ministry spokesman Zahir Azimi in Kabul.

Ahead of U.S. President Barak Obama's visit to the country this week, the Japan government on Tuesday passed an aid package worth up to five billion U.S. dollars over the next five years to help reconstruction process in Afghanistan, a move to replace the military aid for the war in the militancy-plagued country, which involves a controversial refueling mission in the Indian Ocean.

On Oct. 13, the new government of Japan said it would not extend the refueling mission, in which the country's navy assists in refueling U.S. and NATO's vessels involved in military operation in Afghanistan.

Tremblay refused to say if it deters the NATO military mission in Afghanistan when asked by Xinhua reporter.

"The facts that they will decide from time to time to reduce some of their commitments is a national decision and we respect that," Tremblay said.

Source: Xinhua