TOKYO, Oct 4: Japan said on Thursday it will provide funds for Afghan refugees fleeing the threat of US military action against the ruling Taliban as well as emergency aid for Pakistan.

Chief government spokesman Yasuo Fukuda told a news conference that Japan will pledge some 20 per cent of the $29 million requested by the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) for emergency funds for the next two months to cope with a possible influx of some 1.5 million Afghan refugees to Pakistan.

The pledge, to cover some $6 million, will be made at a meeting in Geneva this weekend.

Japan is also willing to extend from around 20 per cent up to a limit of $120 million of the $548 million that UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said in September may be needed over the next six months to aid Afghans facing what the UN calls the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.

To Pakistan, Japan will offer some $24.87 million in non-project grant assistance and an additional $7.5 million in emergency aid to assist Afghan refugees. It will also reschedule some $535.6 million of Pakistan’s debt to Japan.

The fresh aid comes in addition to some $38.97 million Japan extended in aid to Pakistan last month.—Reuters