The leader of the largest opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), Ichiro Ozawa, has expressed hope that Japan will join multinational forces in Afghanistan.

"If the DPJ takes over the reins of government, I'd like Japan to participate in the international security assistance force (ISAF) in Afghanistan," he was quoted as telling party members.

His remarks are expected to create a stir within the DPJ as a majority of its members are cautious about having Self-Defense Force (SDF) troops participate in the ISAF force although some members insist that Japanese troops extend logistic support to troops in Afghanistan.

Moreover, Japan's participation in the ISAF could violate the war-renouncing Constitution that is interpreted as banning the use of force overseas, legal experts point out.

Ozawa has claimed that SDF troops' use of force overseas in a mission based on a U.N. resolution is constitutional.

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