British Foreign Secretary David Miliband on Tuesday called for long-term investment to allow two million displaced to return home after an offensive against the Taliban. "In addition to humanitarian support there needs to be long-term investment so you can go back to your communities and live there in security," Miliband told displaced families at the Yar Hussein camp.
He went straight to the camp after arriving on a fifth visit to the country, and listened to displaced people talking about their difficulties, as he swiped away flies and wiped the back of his neck in scorching heat. "My visit here for three days is to express solidarity but also to discuss practical ways in which we can work together," he said. Miliband said Pakistan faced a "great struggle" as the government and people confronted an insurgency that threatens daily civilised life.
"I assure you that our commitment to you is strong and long-lasting, and that we want to work with you to build the sort of long-term security that you say you want," he added. One displaced man told Miliband the homeless wanted only to return to Swat, where military commanders say operations are being wrapped up against the Taliban and civilians can soon come back.
"We suffered a lot. We have made sacrifices... We want to go back to our motherland. I was a farmer in Swat and I have nothing to do here," he said. Miliband said Britain had committed over a billion dollars for long-term economic and social reconstruction over four years in Pakistan and had also given about 35 million dollars in recent humanitarian support.
He echoed fears from aid workers about the difficulties of dispensing assistance when the majority of the displaced live with families rather than in government-run camps such as Yar Hussein. "That makes it much more difficult to reach them... that is a major factor that creates a bit of a bottleneck in getting aid through," he said.
APP ADDS: David Miliband afternoon visited IDP relief camp at Chota Lahor in Swabi district and was briefed about the facilities being provided to the displaced people and the difficulties faced by them.
Chairman Special Support Group Lieutenant General Nadeem Ahmed briefed the UK Foreign Minister about the facilities provide to the dislocated people at the camp. The affectees on this occasion also told the visiting UK Foreign Minister about the problems confronting them in the camp.
Later in a brief chat with the local media men at the camp, David Miliband said, he had come here personally to share his sympathies with the displaced people and apprised himself of the problems faced by them due to militancy in their areas.
"It's my fifth visit to Pakistan in two years time", he said, adding, the entire world community was satisfied with the outcome of the operations in the militancy hit areas and efforts of Pakistan against insurgency. Pakistan, he said was passing through a difficult phase of its history and the world community stand by it in this difficult hours of trials and tribulations.
The UK Government, he said, provided one billion dollar to Pakistan over a period of four years while the European Union provided 400 million dollars. Similarly he said, 35 million dollars have been provided for rehab of the IDPs. He declared that his government would continue to assist the government of Pakistan in the establishment of peace and harmony.
He maintained that the Pakistan was enjoying the support and assistance of the whole world in war against terror so that to have peace in this part of the region. David Miliband said UK wanted to have long term relations with Pakistan in different sectors and assisting it in different fields of life at the moment as well. He appealed to the people of Pakistan to cooperate with their government in war against terrorism.
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