Pakistan needs 1 bln USD to rehabilitate terrorism-hit people: minister

Pakistan needs 100 billion rupees (about one billion U.S. dollars) to repatriate and rehabilitate nearly one million people uprooted as the result of military offensive in North Waziristan tribal region, a cabinet minister said Wednesday.

The major operation was launched against the Pakistani Taliban and other militant groups after peace dialogue with the Taliban failed because of their deadly attacks on sensitive installations and security personnel.

Minister for States and Frontier Regions, Abdul Qadir Baloch, who deals with the affairs of the displaced people, said that the process of repatriation and rehabilitation of the "Temporarily Displaced Persons" would begin from mid-February which would be completed within one year.

Addressing a news conference in Islamabad, he said that 100 billion rupees are needed for the repatriation and rehabilitation of North Wazirisan's TDPs. He said there are also one million more "Internally Displaced Persons."

"Every possible step would be taken for their early rehabilitation and the government would compensate tribesmen for the losses they suffered," Baloch said.

Majority of the displaced now live in Bannu, a major district near North Waziristan, and many have also moved to other cities and crossed the border into Afghanistan.

Several countries have announced aid for the rehabilitation of the displaced; however, Pakistan still needs more funding to deal with the problem, officials said.

North Wazirisran, one of Pakistan's seven tribal regions, had once been a stronghold of the Taliban militants and several other groups including foreigners. The United Sates and Afghanistan had long been demanding Pakistan act against the armed groups in North Waziristan as they were blamed for cross-border attacks in Afghanistan.

The military spokesman Maj Gen Asim Bajwa said about 2,000 militants have been killed during the major offensive codenamed " Zarb-e-Azb" and the security forces have cleared 90 percent of the areas.

He also said 200 Pakistani security personnel have also been killed during the operation. The security forces have taken control of two main towns of Miranshah and Mir Ali. Militants are believed to be hiding in some mountainous areas.

Baloch said the government intends to launch operations like " Zarb-e-Azb" in the "cities and streets of Pakistan" to eliminate terrorists.

The Army Chief, Gen Raheel Sharif, told a high level meeting that the army will join hands with government and tribal areas administrations to expedite the return of the displaced as per already prepared plan in phases and to ensure a comprehensive resettlement. Endi