Okada, who made a surprise visit to Afghanistan on Sunday and traveled to Pakistan the same day, will also hold talks with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari later Monday.

Okada's visit to Afghanistan and Pakistan comes as Japan is considering how to boost its contribution to rebuilding Afghanistan while planning to terminate its refueling mission in support of U.S.- led antiterrorism operations in and around the country.

After arriving in Pakistan from Afghanistan on Sunday, Okada met with Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, who expressed hope that Japan would continue the mission. But Okada told Gilani that Japan is considering what kind of actions it can take after ending the mission.

Pakistan is among the countries that largely depend on the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force refueling mission in the Indian Ocean, which has been conducted for most of the time since the end of 2001.

Japan plans to end the mission when a law authorizing it expires in January, given that the Democratic Party of Japan, which opposes the mission, took the reins of government in September.

Okada has repeatedly said there will be no "simple" extension of the mission. But he has declined to elaborate on exactly what he means.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, Okada will visit Jakarta to hold meetings with senior government officials. He also plans to go to Padang, the capital of quake-hit West Sumatra Province, to convey his sympathies to victims of the disaster, according to the Foreign Ministry.