Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada made a surprise visit to Afghanistan on Oct. 11, becoming the first Cabinet member in the new administration to visit the war-torn country, the Foreign Ministry said.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai (right) welcomes Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada in Kabul on Oct. 11. KYODO PHOTO

For security reasons, the ministry did not announce the visit until Okada arrived in Kabul.

The highlight of Okada's six-hour visit to Kabul was his talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who called on Japan to take a role in promoting the peace process in the war-ravaged country, a ministry official said.

Karzai also stressed the need for assistance with electricity supply, higher education and agriculture, the official said.

"Assistance for Afghanistan's reconstruction is an important theme," the official quoted Okada as telling Karzai.

Okada told reporters after the 40-minute meeting that Japan would try to focus its aid on helping young people and on being practical.

"As the Japanese government, we would like to give substantial support to children and provide assistance that is useful," he said.

The visit came as Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama looks to enhance Japan's contribution to Afghanistan after terminating a military mission in the Indian Ocean supporting U.S.-led anti-terrorism operations in January. But Japan's refueling mission wasn't taken up during the talks, the official said.

The outcome of Okada's talks with Karzai is likely to be reflected in Tokyo's efforts to work out new aid measures in Afghanistan before U.S. President Barack Obama visits Japan in mid-November.