Post-flood chaos 'may be fertileground for terrorists'

Asif Ali Zardari's remarks were echoed by US Senator John Kerry, who toured some of the worst hit areas and visited a relief camp alongside the president.

The floods have affected 20 million people and about one-fifth of Pakistan's territory, putting pressure on its civilian government as it also struggles against al-Qaida and Taliban violence.

Aid groups and the United Nations have complained that foreign donors have not been quick or generous enough given the scale of the disaster.

"All these catastrophes give strength to forces who do not want a state structure," Mr Zardari said.

"There is a possibility that the negative forces would exploit the situation. Like they would take the babies who have been made orphans and take them to their camps and train them as the terrorists of tomorrow."

His government has been criticised for failing to respond quickly enough, and Islamist charities – at least one of which has alleged links to terrorism – have been active in the flood-hit areas.

There are also concerns the scale of the suffering could stoke unrest and political instability that may impact Pakistan's fight against the Taliban.

Mr Kerry said: "None of us want to see this crisis to provide an opportunity or an excuse for people who want to exploit the misery of others for political or ideological purpose and so it is important for all of us to work overtime."

More than three weeks after the floods first begun, the USA, Germany and Saudi Arabia all announced new pledges of aid, while Japan said it would send helicopters to help distribute food, water and medicine.

The Asian Development Bank said it would redirect two billion dollars (1.3bn) of existing and planned loans for reconstruction.

"If we don't do it quick, if we don't do it well, what will the Pakistani people think?" said Juan Miranda, the bank's director general for Central and West Asia. "We have to put every road and every bridge back into the shape where they should be."

The United States has deployed 18 army helicopters to hard-hit areas and given other aid worth 90 million dollars (59m). Mr Kerry said that would increase to 150 million dollars (98m). The figure is expected to be announced at a United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York.

Saudi Arabia said it would donate 80 million dollars (52m) to Pakistan, the official Saudi Press Agency reported, making it one of the largest donors. The country has for years sought to project its influence in Pakistan and has funded the spread of hardline Islamic theology there.

Pakistan is vital for America's strategic goals of defeating militancy and stabilising neighbouring Afghanistan so its troops can one day withdraw. Before the floods, Washington had already committed to spending 7.5 billion dollars (4.9bn) over the next five years on humanitarian projects in Pakistan.

The floods began in the Northwest of the country after exceptionally heavy monsoon rains and have since swamped thousands of towns and villages in Punjab and Sindh provinces. While rainfall has lessened, flooding is continuing in parts of Sindh province as water from the north courses down the Indus and other rivers.