October 18, 2001	Thursday	Rajab 30, 1422

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ISLAMABAD, Oct 17: British secretary of state for international development Clare Short called on President Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday and delivered a personal message of British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

According to a handout, the president discussed with her the Kashmir issue. He said Pakistan wanted the Kashmir dispute resolved in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people.

On Afghanistan, the president said that durable peace in that country would be possible only through the establishment of a broad-based multiethnic government representing the demographic realities of Afghanistan truly chosen by the Afghans without outside interference.

The president said, “we should help Afghans in rehabilitation and reconstruction of their country.” He expressed the hope that the military operations in Afghanistan would be short.

He highlighted the economic and social reforms introduced by his government.

He urged the international community, including British government, to work with Pakistan to address debt situation to enable the government to focus on growth and human development.

The president said his government had taken a number of steps to reduce poverty.

Ms Short appreciated the structural reforms initiated by the government and emphasised the need for ensuring their sustainability.

She said Pakistan had built credibility by introducing economic reforms and the government should continue to focus on poverty reduction and human development.

The meeting was attended by the Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz, Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar and British High Commissioner Hilary Nicholas Synnott.