** This thread discusses the Content article: Japanese proposal would scale back naval support for US war in Afghanistan **

TOKYO (AP) -- Japan could scale back its support of the U.S. in Afghanistan by ending naval assistance to vessels involved in ground missions there under a ruling Liberal Democratic Party proposal that officials predicted Sunday would gain parliamentary approval.

Since 2001, Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force has been providing fuel for coalition warships under an anti-terrorism law that has been extended three times. Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda has strongly pushed for another extension to the mission.

However, Fukuda has been forced to make concessions because of strong resistance from the opposition bloc, which controls one of the Diet's two chambers.

A new draft law, submitted to the opposition Friday, would limit the mission to naval refueling and supplying of water to vessels participating in the U.S.-led Operation Enduring Freedom's maritime patrol missions in the Indian Ocean.

"Under the new law, there will be no refueling to ships providing support for ground operations (in Afghanistan)," Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura said Sunday on a public broadcaster NHK talk show.

"The Indian Ocean is an important passage way for much of the world's oil, and tankers passing through could fall victim to terrorism," Komura said. "Providing security there is valued highly by the international community, and we will continue to provide logistical support."

It was not immediately clear how seriously U.S. ground operations in Afghanistan would be affected under the draft law, the details of which have not been made public.

The LDP submitted the new draft law to the opposition in a last-ditch attempt to enlist their support to renew the mission before it expires Nov. 1.

The current law allows more leeway in what kind of support Japan's Self-Defense Forces can provide -- a sensitive issue because of the pacifist Constitution.

The main opposition Democratic Party of Japan has demanded a full debate in the Diet, raising speculation the government will not meet the Nov. 1 deadline.

The DPJ is critical of the mission because they say the U.S.-led Afghan campaign has not been properly sanctioned by the United Nations. They also say the mission violates the pacifist Constitution.

The country's largest business daily, the Nikkei, said Saturday that Japan was preparing to withdraw its ships entirely from the region because the government did not expect to meet the deadline -- a report quickly denied by the Defense Ministry.

Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Sunday the government remained confident it can win backing of the opposition, which controls the Diet's upper chamber.

"We believe the new law will be approved in the upper house," Ishiba told a separate talk show aired by TV Asahi.

"Afghanistan remains a terrorist hotbed, and peace in that region is in Japan's national interest," Ishiba said. "Why shouldn't Japan provide fuel to ships that patrol the sea, to prevent the proliferation of terrorism and drugs?"

The parliamentary deadlock comes after the LDP lost control of the upper house in elections in July. It still controls the lower house, however, which can override an upper house decision.

But Fukuda, who took office last month, has sold himself as a compromiser and promised to reach a consensus with the opposition over the Afghan mission.

Japan, America's top ally in Asia, also backed the U.S. invasion of Iraq and provided ground troops for a non-combat, humanitarian mission in southern Iraq from 2004-2006. Since removing ground troops last July, Japan has expanded its Kuwait-_base_d air operations.

Japan also hosts about 50,000 U.S. troops and is working with the U.S. on a joint missile defense system.