Britain to continue support Pakistan in fighting terrorism, extremism: Miliband

ISLAMABAD : British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Commonwealth David Miliband on Monday said Britain is a strong partner of Pakistan and would continue to support it in confronting its challenges including extremism and terrorism.

Miliband, who called on Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani here, said terrorism was not only a challenge for Pakistan but had become a global concern.
He said Pakistan faced a lot of difficulties due to its frontline role in war against terror and was still passing through a difficult phase.
Miliband appreciated the government’s new strategy to address the issue of terrorism through dialogue.
He said British government had agreed on the need to incorporate political and economic means besides security measures to confront the challenges of terrorism in Afghanistan.
Miliband expressed the desire to further enhance bilateral relations with Pakistan in all fields including economic and trade.
Britain would also encourage the European Union to strengthen its cooperation with Pakistan including trade benefits.
He also informed the Prime Minister that Britain would greatly welcome Pakistan back in the Commonwealth.
Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said Pakistan and Britain enjoy strong friendly relations which would open up new avenues in all spheres of life.
Gilani referred to numerous challenges confronted by the new democratic government and expressed his strong commitment to overcome these problems by implementing policies supported by the people.
He said that terrorism and extremism is a global phenomenon, and Pakistan being a frontline state has sacrificed a lot including the assassination of national leader Benazir Bhutto.
The Prime Minister said in order to curb the menace of terrorism and extremism, the world community needed to address its rootcauses which stem from socio-economic disparity and unresolved political disputes.
He said the new democratic government would adopt a multi-pronged strategy to fight terrorism as the previous strategy had failed to produce the desired results.
He said the new strategy would incorporate both long term and short term methods including political dialogue, socio-economic development and security measures in the areas bordering Afghanistan to address the issue effectively.
The Prime Minister said he had already announced initiation of a dialogue with those who abandoned violence and laid down their arms.
He said the government would improve the socio-economic conditions and extend democratic rights to the people of FATA.
The Prime Minister said one of the foremost challenge before the government was to improve law and order situation in the country as it directly relates with economic development.
Political stability and security are essential components of economic stability, he added.
Referring to the regional situation, the Prime Minister said Pakistan wants friendly relations with all its neighbours including Afghanistan.
He also mentioned that the meeting of small jirga would be held soon which would hopefully make headway for lasting peace in the area.
The Prime Minister said the government intends to ensure supremacy of the parliament, a free and vibrant media, independent judiciary and autonomous Election Commission in order to make these institutions strong and effective.
He said the 1973 constitution made by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was accepted by all the sections of society and can keep the federation intact as it was agreed upon by all the political parties.
Regarding Pakistan’s re-entry into the fold of Commonwealth, the Prime Minister said Pakistan would continue to play its role at the forum for the promotion of democracy as well as multi-lateral relations with the member states.