Japan, whose scope for helping the US-led "war on terrorism" is limited by its constitution, is eyeing a role in the reconstruction of Afghanistan and the formation of a post-Taliban government.
Japan and the US are preparing for talks on the the formation of a new Afghan government and reconstruction of the war-torn state, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun business daily reported yesterday.
It said that the Foreign Ministry will send a top official to Washington this week for discussions, which could include the possibility of holding a conference on Afghan reconstruction in Tokyo under the auspices of the UN.
A Foreign Ministry official said she could not confirm the report.
"There is readiness to do this, but nothing concrete has been decided," she added.
Shunji Yanai, Japan's ambassador to the US, said on Tuesday that the two nations were holding unofficial talks to discuss the political process for a post-Taliban Afghanistan, Kyodo news agency said.
"Japan can cooperate for a political reconciliation in Afghanistan. Assistance for reconstruction is Japan's strong area," he was quoted as saying at a news conference in Washington.
Yanai added that Japan can take a neutral position and be actively involved in the peace process in Afghanistan as it has no controversial historical background in the country.
US officials have said that Japan's main role could well be in Afghan reconstruction, particularly in providing funds.
Japan has been keen to show itself a staunch ally of the US following bitter experiences in the 1991 Gulf War, when it was criticized for declining to commit even a token force to the war. Its pacifist constitution renounces war as a policy option.
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