October 15, 2002	Tuesday	Sha'aban 8, 1423

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ISTANBUL, Oct 14: President Pervez Musharraf has called for an accelerated reconstruction of Afghanistan and said this was necessary to ensure peace and stability in the region.

Addressing the Turkish War Academy on Sunday, the president said that Pakistan fully backed President Hamid Karzai in his efforts to develop his country after decades of fighting.

Gen Musharraf said that support to Mr Karzai was also imperative in order to help him establish the writ of his government all over Afghanistan.

The president noted that the peace and development in Afghanistan was key to the regional peace and stability. He said there was a need to establish multi-ethnicity in the Afghan police and army. He lauded the role of the United Nation peacekeepers, particularly the contingent of the Turkish armed forces, in maintaining peace and tranquillity in Afghanistan.

He pointed out that the international community had pledged to donate about $4 billion towards the reconstruction of Afghanistan. But, he added, the pace of development needed to be speeded up.

Speaking about Pakistan’s internal issues, President Musharraf said his government had started many measures to improve economy, ensured good governance, done political restructuring and taken steps for poverty alleviation.

He said Pakistan would continue to be in the forefront on war against terrorism.

By holding elections within the period given by the Supreme Court, the president said he had fulfilled the promise to return the country to democracy within three years.

The president said that the verdict of the electorate delivered in Oct 10 elections would be respected and the elected representatives would be running the government by the first week of next month. —APP