ISLAMABAD, Oct 20: President Gen Pervez Musharraf said on Thursday Pakistan would welcome financial assistance from international community for ‘monumental’ reconstruction effort the country is to mount in the areas devastated by October 8 deadly earthquake.

He told CNN in an interview that the priority of the government at the moment was alleviation of sufferings of the quake-hit people.

“If anyone wants to extend financial assistance for monumental reconstruction effort, we will accept it,” he said while answering a question whether Pakistan would accept assistance from the Jewish community.

About death toll in the 7.6-magnitude earthquake that shattered the mountainous region of the NWFP and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, he said it was likely to cross 50,000.

He said Pakistan would utilize international assistance in a transparent and judicious way for rebuilding infrastructure and lives of quake-stricken people.

“Here I would like to say that intentions alone are not enough. The first thing to be done is to work out a strategy on how to address the issue, and then pick an effective organization to execute the strategy. Having done that, come the modalities and tactics of implementation.”

Referring to the newly-created Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority, President Musharraf said he would chair it and spearhead the reconstruction efforts.

Commenting on extremist organizations’ participation in relief activities, he said the government knew some of the organizations were active in some areas but they were not the ones which had been banned and they were not involved in militancy.

Pakistan had banned a number of extremist organizations while it was keeping watch on others, he added.

However, he noted that at this time everyone was motivated to do something for the suffering people.

Answering another question, the president said Pakistan had not moved any of its troops engaged in critical missions.

“We have got a very big army, over 500,000. We have abundant troops to be moved if required.”

Answering yet another question about the country’s nuclear assets, he said they were completely secure and safe.

“(The nuclear weapons are) 200 per cent secure. They have not been affected……… They are in very secure areas. I think many of them cannot be reached through nuclear attacks even.”

On Pakistan’s proposal to allow Kashmiris from across the Line of Control to take part in the reconstruction work, he said the interaction between the people may facilitate progress towards resolution of the decades-old Kashmir dispute between Pakistan and India.

“May be yes, if the people come into act, let them generate some kind of solutions for themselves.”—-APP