( CNN ) -- Japan may withdraw the last of its military mission in Iraq by the end of the year , the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Thursday . Japan 's Ground Self-Defense Force was initially deployed in 2004 to help in reconstruction and left in 2006 . Japan 's Air Self-Defense Force has been airlifting materials and troops between Kuwait and Iraq since 2006 to support U.S.-led coalition forces . `` The political and security situations have improved , '' and the Iraqi government suggested it wants countries to downsize their presence , Defense Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters , according to the Kyodo news agency . Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura said Japan will discuss an official schedule for ending the mission with the United States , the United Nations and Iraq . Withdrawal would mark the end of Japan 's military presence in Iraq . The country 's Ground Self-Defense Force was initially deployed in 2004 to help in reconstruction and left in 2006 . The Japanese Navy continues to take part in refueling missions in support of the U.S.-led coalition in and around Afghanistan . Except for a three-month hiatus , Japan had been refueling coalition warships taking part in interdiction operations against terrorists in the Indian Ocean since 2001 . As an officially pacifist nation since losing World War II , Japan 's participation in these missions has been controversial .
Japan may withdraw the last of its military mission in Iraq by the end of the year . Japan 's military has moved materials , personnel between Afghanistan and Iraq since 2003 . Japanese air force deployed in Iraq in 2004 to support reconstruction left in 2006 . Japanese military continues refueling aircraft in support of coalition in Afghanistan .