October 18, 2001	Thursday	Rajab 30, 1422

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ISLAMABAD, Oct 17: The allies would continue to operate against Al Qaeda till it’s fully demobilized and all targets are achieved as terrorism threatens all the world, said British secretary of state for International Development Ms Clare Short here on Wednesday.

Speaking to the media people during her brief visit to this neighbouring city of the federal capital, she said: “We are here for long and our cooperation with Pakistan government would be long-lasting also.”

While alluding to poverty and illiteracy, she categorically stated that this time round the Afghans would not be left to suffer the aftermath of the international campaign against terror and the UK and its allies would like to address to all factors that led to the present situation.

She said the military campaign and the assistance for Afghans would continue simultaneously and there was no question of pausing the air strikes to allow the humanitarian agencies to reach the people in Afghanistan as the strikes did not hinder humanitarian activities. She was reacting to call by some groups to halt strikes for carrying out relief work.

Ms Short asserted that the campaign would continue unabated till terrorism is rooted out from Afghanistan.

The British secretary of state said her government supports the reforms initiated by Gen Musharraf’s government and holds Pakistan’s support for international campaign against terror in high esteem.

She came down heavily on the former democratically elected governments saying they had massively indulged in corruption and had set records of bad governance and inefficiency. However, she said, now we are supporting the military government that is involved in transition.

She said the UK government fully realizes the strain Pakistan is bearing due to the presence of Afghan refugees on its soil and added that her government would do all to lessen that pressure.

Finance minister Shaukat Aziz reiterated the support of his government for international community’s campaign against terror and said this support would continue till all targets are achieved.

BRIEFINGS: The British secretary of state met five federal ministers and the deputy chairman Planning Commission and discussed with them the possibility of increased cooperation between her country and Pakistan in the field of human development, social development, poverty reduction, education and health.

During the first meeting, Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz briefed her about the impact of Sept 11 event on the Pakistani economy. He outlined the need for fiscal and balance of payment support from the donors. He said while prices were expected to be stable, exchange rate steady and banking liquidity adequate, revenue collection, exports, and investment were likely to fall.

Aziz briefed her about the integrated approach evolved by the government to combat poverty, improve standard of education, increase agricultural and industrial production.

The British Secretary of State was also briefed by the minister for health Abdul Malik Kansi, minister for population welfare and women development, Dr Attiya Inayatullah, minister for education Zubaida Jalal, minister for Kashmir affairs Abbas Sarfraz Khan and deputy chairman Planning Commission Dr Shahid Amjad Chaudhry about the reforms undertaken by the government in the respective fields.

She was told by the health minister that the priority has been accorded to improve primary health. Similarly, Dr Attiya informed the British minister that the government has chalked out an elaborate programme to address gender disparity which was the main reason for backwardness of women in Pakistan.

Mrs Jalal said the government has worked out a strategy for attaining 100 per cent literacy and encourage adult and youth literacy programme.

Sarfraz Khan told Ms Short that the influx of the Afghan refugees might increase to over three million.