Abstract: A fuel injection pump includes a reciprocating plunger and a control sleeve slidably fitted over the plunger, the prestroke of which is varied by vertical movement of the control sleeve. The control sleeve is provided at its upper end with a fuel discharge groove, through which the fuel contained in a fuel-pressurizing chamber is discharged after the end of injection. The control sleeve also has to pressure escape passage. A variation in the effective stroke allows the pressure of fuel contained in the fuel-pressurizing chamber to be selectively regulated by the pressure escape passage, thereby controlling the pressure of fuel to be injected.