ISLAMABAD, Oct 1: In a letter addressed to President Gen Pervez Musharraf, the UN Secretary-General, Mr Kofi Annan, has conveyed his deep appreciation for the humanitarian assistance being provided by Pakistan to Afghan refugees.

He assured the President of UN’s continued cooperation in this regard and recalled his recent launching of an appeal to the international community for $584 million for providing relief assistance to both the Afghans living in their country and those who had taken refuge in neighbouring states.

The letter was handed over by the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Mr Kenzo Oshima, when he met the President in Islamabad on Monday.

During the meeting the President stressed the need for preparing a comprehensive reconstruction and rehabilitation plan for Afghanistan.—APP