RAWALPINDI, Oct 8: Six Japanese military transport aircraft carrying relief goods for Afghan refugees will arrive here on Tuesday, Japan embassy officials told Dawn on Monday.

The relief supplies include 200 blanket and over 300 tents, besides food and medicines. The officials, however, did not mention the exact quantity of the assistance being provided by the Japan government on the appeal of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees.

When asked if more such flights would be following, the officials said, for the time being, only six aircraft were coming and no decision about further flights had so far been taken.

About the 150 Japanese military personnel arriving with the transport aircraft, the embassy officials said they were only coming to deliver the relief goods and would not be taking part in any humanitarian operation or the UN food-drop missions.

The aircraft of the Self-Defence Forces will land in the federal capital after making brief stops in Philippines, Thailand and India for refuelling. They had left Japanese island of Okinawa on Sunday.

The Japanese aircraft are taking part in an international relief operation after a long time due to certain policy impediments.

There are around three million Afghan refugees in Pakistan and many more are arriving everyday.

Japan had agreed to give $40 million in assistance to Pakistan and promised more aid following President Musharraf’s decision to support the US-led campaign against terrorism.