October 7, 2001	Sunday	Rajab 19, 1422

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GENEVA, Oct 6: Minister for Kashmir Affairs, Abbas Sarfaraz Khan has expressed the hope that the suffering of the Afghan people will be alleviated speedily by the generous support of the international community.

Speaking at the Forum on Afghan Refugees and Displaced Populations under the auspicious of UNHCR here, he said, “I wish to reiterate here the assurances given by our president that Pakistan stands ready to play its part in the humanitarian field as much as in the campaign against terrorism”.

He said Pakistan warmly welcomes the timely initiative of the United Nations to convene this Forum with the participation of donor governments, the concerned international agencies and NGOs as well as the neighbouring countries of Afghanistan and the efforts to resolve the problems of Afghan refugees and displaced populations.

He hoped that this meeting would mark the beginning of a process of collective thinking and planning which will continue as events unfold in Afghanistan and the extent of humanitarian challenges becomes clearer.

He said terrorist attacks of September 11 in New York and Washington have shocked the world and led to passionate calls to promote a new world order.

He said the government and people of Pakistan have expressed their heartfelt sympathy to the government and people of the United States.

The minister said: “We stand ready to assume our role in the international campaign to eliminate all forms of terrorism and to address humanitarian problems arising from use of violence and extremism.”

He said it is sad to note that it took 20 years that Afghan refugees got world’s attention to their ordeal and sufferings.

The people of Afghanistan - those inside as well as those outside the country - have continued to suffer in silence, neglected and almost forgotten by the world community until the recent tragic events in the United States, he said.

The Afghan Support Group has been meeting periodically but the level of assistance - inside and outside Afghanistan - has remained insignificant, even during the three years long drought that has adversely affected Afghanistan and its neighbours Sarfraz said.

The emergency measures now being planned, Abbas said, must be based on an integrated approach and a long term programme of assistance for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Afghanistan.

He said the primary purpose of this meeting should be to devise ways and means to redress the humanitarian crisis within Afghanistan.—APP