Military

DATE=1/17/2002

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-285342

TITLE=AFGHAN / POWELL (L)

BYLINE=AYAZ GUL

DATELINE=ISLAMABAD

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Secretary of State Colin Powell, who is on a five nation trip to Asia, has assured leaders in Afghanistan that the United States will remain committed to their war-shattered country for a long time. From Islamabad, Ayaz Gul reports.

TEXT: Secretary Powell made a stop in Afghanistan on Thursday before traveling on to New Delhi. In the Afghan capital, he held talks with interim leader Hamid Karzai to find out what his government needs to rebuild the country.

Mr. Powell is the first secretary of state to visit Afghanistan in more

than 25 years.

At a joint news conference with Mr. Karzai, Secretary Powell pledged

Washington will stand by Afghanistan for a long time and plans to make a significant contribution to rebuilding the country. He promised to announce the amount of U-S aid at a donors' conference in Tokyo next week.

The World Bank estimates Afghanistan's reconstruction will cost 15-billion

dollars over 10-years.

Mr. Powell says that U-S led anti-terrorism campaign will continue until

the remnants of al-Qaida and the Taleban are removed from Afghanistan.

This, he says, will ensure they do not threaten the country's stability in

future.

//POWELL ACT//

We don't want to leave any contamination behind. And I think, that is in

the interests of the Afghan people and certainly the mission we came here

to perform.

//END ACT//

Mr. Powell says the presence of the United States and multi-national

security forces in Afghanistan will also help improve the security situation.

//POWELL ACT//

But ultimate security will come from the creation of an Afghan national

army committed to the new Afghanistan. And the creation of police units

that are also committed to the new Afghanistan. That is the area that we

have to really focus our attention. Training Afghans to take care of

themselves.

//END ACT//

For his part, Afghan leader Karazi promised that his interim administration

will help create a democracy in the country and will make any aid money to

rebuild Afghanistan is not misused.

//KARZAI ACT//

One area where we will be extremely tough and rather oppressive will be

against corruption. We will be very very tough there. There is no way that

we can allow that. Because we know that if we allow that the country will

not do well.

//END ACT//

Before leaving Kabul, Secretary Powell also announced the upgrade of the

U-S mission there to a full embassy. He presented awards to two local staff

who have guarded the compound during years of civil war in Afghanistan.

Secretary Powell is on a five-nation trip. A major objective of his mission is to try to ease tensions between India and Pakistan. He met President General Musharraf to discuss steps the Pakistani leader has taken to de-escalate the standoff. During his stop in Secretary Powell flew to India later in the day (Thursday) for talks with Indian leaders

(SIGNED)

NEB/AG/KBK