Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka said Friday she will probably visit Pakistan during the three-day weekend starting Nov. 23 to discuss antiterror measures and refugee aid.
Tanaka told a news conference the ministry is now adjusting its schedules so that her visit does not affect Diet deliberations.
Although Tokyo has sent veteran lawmakers as special envoys to Iran, India, Tajikistan and Saudi Arabia, it will be Tanaka's first visit to any country that neighbors Afghanistan, the target of U.S.-led military strikes following the Sept. 11 attacks in New York and Washington.
Tanaka previously told a Diet committee that she would like to visit Pakistan or Iran during the long weekend. In September, Seiken Sugiura, senior vice foreign minister, visited Pakistan in place of Tanaka.