Japan likely to take part in U.S. Afghanistan policy review: sources

+

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 Kyodo -
Japan is likely to take part in a U.S. review of its strategy on Afghanistan as
part of global efforts to stabilize the war-torn country, sources close to
Japan-U.S. relations said Saturday.
The United States asked for Japan's participation when U.S. Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton met Japanese Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone in Tokyo on
Tuesday, with Tokyo starting to discuss the request in a forward-looking
manner, the sources said.
U.S. President Barack Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso are expected
to take up the matter during their summit planned for next Tuesday in
Washington, they said.
A major donor for Afghanistan, Japan is preparing to convene in Tokyo in late
March an international donor conference on Pakistan, which holds the key to the
stability of Afghanistan.
In addition to Japan, Afghanistan, neighboring Pakistan and North Atlantic
Treaty Organization member states that have sent troops to Afghanistan are
likely to take part in the review of Washington's Afghanistan policy, the
sources said.
A State Department official said the United States hopes Japan will appoint a
government representative to participate in the interagency U.S. review.
The United States is scheduled to complete its Afghanistan policy review by
early April, when a NATO summit takes place in Strasbourg, France, and Kehl,
Germany.
==Kyodo
2009-02-21 20:43:28