The Bank of Japan will consider maintaining the current pace of bond purchases beyond next fiscal year, sources said, pausing a taper process that would mark a turning point in its quantitative tightening (QT) plan. But the decision could be a close call as the nine-member board is seen as split between those who want to focus on soothing investor nerves and others who see the need to steadily slow purchases to reduce the BOJ's large balance sheet, they said.