November 24, 2001	Saturday	Ramazan 8, 1422

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ISLAMABAD, Nov 23: Three escort ships and two supplies ships supported by six transport planes and two multi-purpose aircraft of Japan’s self-defence forces will be deployed off Pakistan’s seashore by the end of December, a diplomatic source said.

“Japanese self-defence forces will not participate in any combat operation and will also not engage in any major ground operation,” a spokesperson for the Japanese foreign minister told reporters.

However, diplomatic sources were positive that the units of Japanese defence forces comprising 1,500 personnel, which Japan had committed to the US-led coalition in its war against terrorism by amending its constitution, would arrive in the area by the end of December.

A special law called ‘anti-terrorism special measures law’ had been passed by Japan under which the government prepared a basic plan envisaging the deployment of Japanese troops.

These troops would confine to logistics support, supplies, rescue operations and transportation of relief goods, Daisuke Matsunaga, spokesperson of the Japanese foreign minister said.

“Under the constitution we upheld our resolve not to become a military superpower,” said the spokesperson.