Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TOKYO2434
2008-09-05 06:29:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
JAPAN ON EXPANSION OF AFGHAN NATIONAL ARMY
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C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 002434
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/A SINGH
OSD FOR BASALLA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/04/2018
TAGS: PREL AF JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN ON EXPANSION OF AFGHAN NATIONAL ARMY
REF: STATE 93225
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Jim Zumwalt for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 002434
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/A SINGH
OSD FOR BASALLA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/04/2018
TAGS: PREL AF JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN ON EXPANSION OF AFGHAN NATIONAL ARMY
REF: STATE 93225
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Jim Zumwalt for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)
1. (C) Japan will support a call by Afghanistan at the
September 10 Joint Coordination Board Meeting for the
expansion of the Afghan National Army to an authorized
strength of 134,000, according to MOFA Second Middle East
Division Principal Deputy Director Motosada Matano. However,
Japan will have difficulty responding to any subsequent
appeals for funding to support the expansion due to Japanese
policy that circumscribes the provision of assistance for
military purposes.
2. (C) Matano said Tokyo continues to consider our standing
request for funds to support law enforcement and other
initiatives in Afghanistan, but that recent political turmoil
in Tokyo, including Prime Minister Fukuda's resignation
announcement, will make this more difficult. He said MOFA
has been working hard for the past month to put together a
funding package for Afghanistan that would have been part of
a supplemental budget to be passed this fall during an
extraordinary Diet session. However, given Fukuda's
resignation and domestic political preoccupation with funding
an economic stimulus package, he judges it unlikely the Diet
will be in the mood to approve any additional funds for
Afghanistan at this time. The next opportunity to consider
such funding would come in the next regular Diet session,
which would normally begin in January. MOFA National
Security Division Principal Deputy Director Shingo Miyamoto
concurred that this course of events is a likely one, but
cautioned that it is difficult to tell for certain what will
or will not be included in the supplementary budget. He said
there is still a possibility that funding for Afghanistan may
be addressed.
ZUMWALT
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/A SINGH
OSD FOR BASALLA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/04/2018
TAGS: PREL AF JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN ON EXPANSION OF AFGHAN NATIONAL ARMY
REF: STATE 93225
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Jim Zumwalt for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)
1. (C) Japan will support a call by Afghanistan at the
September 10 Joint Coordination Board Meeting for the
expansion of the Afghan National Army to an authorized
strength of 134,000, according to MOFA Second Middle East
Division Principal Deputy Director Motosada Matano. However,
Japan will have difficulty responding to any subsequent
appeals for funding to support the expansion due to Japanese
policy that circumscribes the provision of assistance for
military purposes.
2. (C) Matano said Tokyo continues to consider our standing
request for funds to support law enforcement and other
initiatives in Afghanistan, but that recent political turmoil
in Tokyo, including Prime Minister Fukuda's resignation
announcement, will make this more difficult. He said MOFA
has been working hard for the past month to put together a
funding package for Afghanistan that would have been part of
a supplemental budget to be passed this fall during an
extraordinary Diet session. However, given Fukuda's
resignation and domestic political preoccupation with funding
an economic stimulus package, he judges it unlikely the Diet
will be in the mood to approve any additional funds for
Afghanistan at this time. The next opportunity to consider
such funding would come in the next regular Diet session,
which would normally begin in January. MOFA National
Security Division Principal Deputy Director Shingo Miyamoto
concurred that this course of events is a likely one, but
cautioned that it is difficult to tell for certain what will
or will not be included in the supplementary budget. He said
there is still a possibility that funding for Afghanistan may
be addressed.
ZUMWALT