SUKKUR, March 29: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali has said that the Wana operation has not been stopped; it has been suspended for the time being. He said that the operation would continue till the elimination of all terrorists from the area.

Addressing a press conference at the circuit house here on Monday night, he said that no-one would be allowed to use the soil of this country for terrorist activities.

He appealed to the people to think dispassionately if the country could afford to let terrorists operate from here keeping in view its position in the international community.

Mr Jamali said his government was determined to root out Al Qaeda network from Pakistan. About ties with India, he said that although Pakistan was working for good relations with India, it would be wrong to suggest that the Kashmir issue had been sidelined.

He said that the issue was on top of the agenda and the joint statement of President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, issued on January 6, 2004, proved that the Kashmir issue had not been ignored.

He said Pakistan wanted good relations with India on the basis of equality and to the benefit of both the countries. In reply to a question, Mr Jamali said that the plans for Kalabagh dam and Thal canal had been prepared by a previous elected government, "not by my government not by President Musharraf's government."

He assured that Sindh would not suffer any loss from Thal canal and other water reservoirs. Every province will get its due share of water; no-one would be deprived of it. Replying to a question regarding the Hyderabad Package, the prime minister asserted that he had not announced that package.

He said that an announcement about development had been made by President Musharraf during his visit to Hyderabad, adding that the government was trying to fulfil the promises made to the people of Hyderabad.

He said that talking about packages had become fashion; it was not possible to announce packages for every city and town. Mid-term polls: The prime minister categorically ruled out any possibility of mid-term elections and said he would like to know how could he, being the prime minister, say that mid-term elections would be held. He denied reports that the government was considering to carve out more provinces from the existing four.