Japan's prime minister has pledged to resume naval operations in the Indian Ocean "as soon as possible" in support of US-led troops in Afghanistan.

In a New Year's message, Yasuo Fukuda said he wanted Japan to take an active role in the global fight against “terrorism”, despite an ongoing political row over the mission.

"At this very moment in the Indian Ocean, numerous countries are cooperating, carrying on their fight against terrorism," he said.

"I want Japan to be working hard for the world along with other countries as soon as possible.''

For six years, Japan's naval mission provided logistical support to forces involved in the war in Afghanistan, primarily supplying fuel to coalition warships.

But the mission was recalled on November 1 after Japanese opposition parties raised concerns that the operation did not have explicit support from the United Nations.

Critics also suggested that the mission possibly violated Japan's pacifist constitution.

Embarrassing retreat

The retreat was a major embarrassment for Fukuda, who has been a staunch supporter of a continued presence for Japan in the region, and threw a cloud over Japan's close alliance with the US.

Fukuda's government has now submitted a bill to parliament to allow the ships to be deployed again, but in a more limited role.

His ruling bloc is expected to use its majority in the powerful lower house to push the bill through the upper chamber, which is controlled by the opposition.

Under the new bill, the Japanese mission would be limited to refuelling and supplying water to ships used in monitoring and inspecting vessels suspected of links to “terrorism” or arms smuggling.

The Japanese ships would not though refuel coalition vessels directly involved in military operations inside Afghanistan.

PHOTO CAPTION

Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda. [AFP]

Al-Jazeera