PESHAWAR, Jan 24: Interior and Narcotics Affairs Minister Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat on Saturday ruled out the possibility of an extradition treaty with Afghanistan in the current circumstances.

"There is no chance that Islamabad will sign such an agreement with Kabul, unless the government there establishes its writ across the country and restores law and order," he told newsmen after attending the passing-out parade at the Frontier Constabulary Training School, Shabqadar.

He said Afghanistan's internal situation was not favourable for such a treaty.

"We recently suggested to President Hamid Karzai that his government should give priority to the restoration of peace and security," he said and added that instability in Afghanistan would have negative effects on Pakistan.

He said Islamabad had requested the International Security Assistance Force to fulfil its responsibilities in this regard.

Mr Hayat said the government had offered to train Afghanistan's security forces and a $100 million credit to improve the capacity of the border security forces.

He expressed the hope that Punjab Minister Naeemullah Shahani would be recovered soon. He said joint efforts were under way in this regard and the administration had engaged a tribal jirga for the minister's recovery.

He, however, said: "It is unfortunate that Mr Shahani did not behave in a responsible way and went to the tribal area without informing orgetting permission from the authorities concerned."

In reply to a question, he denied that the kidnappers had linked Mr Shahani's release with the release of Khalid Omar Sheikh, who has been convicted in the Daniel Pearl case.

He said the government had launched operations in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas bordering Afghanistan and other parts of the country to flush out extremist elements.

He reiterated that Pakistan was fulfilling its obligations and would not allow any group or individual to use its territory against any other country. He said that United Nations and other countries had appreciated Islamabad's commitments and efforts for the eradication of militancy and extremism.

He said the debriefing of nuclear scientists would take time, because the procedure was very comprehensive.

Earlier, the minister said the Frontier Constabulary was doing acommendable job for the maintenance of law and order and eradication of terrorism and drug trafficking.

He said the force should improve its professional capability to cope with new challenges. He said the government would provide grants to the force for the purchase of vehicles and accommodation facilities.

FC Commandant Israr Khan Shinwari said that the force's curriculum was being reviewed to improve itsefficiency.

He said that FC needed financial assistance to improve trainingfacilities and provide proper accommodation to the personnel.