| The Japanese government may dispatch elements of the Self-Defense Forces to Pakistan as well as to the Indian Ocean to provide logistic support to the U.S. military should it follow through with threats of force in the region. The government and the Liberal Democratic Party plan to submit a bill to the extraordinary Diet session that convenes Thursday to enable the SDF to support a U.S.-led multinational force. The bill features measures to provide support for refugees who may flee areas affected by any military action and identifies Pakistan as one possible haven. |