Japan today ordered the end of a naval refueling mission in the Indian Ocean that has supported the US-led war in Afghanistan since 2001. Defence Minister Toshimi Kitazawa issued an order to the fleet commander to immediately end refueling activity in the Indian Ocean and to send the troops home. In a statement the ministry said the move fulfils a pledge by Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's centre-left government, which took office in September vowing a less subservient relationship with security partner the United States.<br/><br/>Japan has supplied oil and water to vessels from 11 countries that have joined international forces in Afghanistan. With the end of the refuelling mission, Japan pledged that it would instead step up aid to Afghanistan, offering 5 billion US dollars over the next five years to help rebuild the war-torn nation.