ISLAMABAD
The UK on Monday asked Pakistan to increase its counter-terrorism efforts, assuring Islamabad of all-out support for the success of its efforts in this regard.
British Home Secretary and Minister for Women and Equality Theresa May, who arrived in Pakistan on Sunday on a three-day visit, met President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.
She had a detailed discussion with the Pakistani leadership on various aspects of terrorism, especially the latest situation in the country’s tribal regions, a senior official privy to the consultations.
Other issues such as economic and defense cooperation also figured in the talks. The British home secretary told the Pakistani leadership that the UK wanted Pakistan to accelerate anti-terrorism efforts with a military offensive in North Waziristan where according to her not only local Taliban but dozens of foreign nationals including the British citizens were also present.
She said Pakistan needed to take action against all those militants and especially those from the western nations as they were involved in planning acts of subversion in Britain and the rest of Europe, the official said.
According to statement issued after the meeting between the president and the British home secretary, President Zardari asked for a greater international cooperation to counter extremism and terrorism and stressed the need for capacity-building of Pakistani security forces to counter the threat.
He said the democratic dispensation had evolved domestic consensus against the extremist elements and would take all measures to neutralise the threat. He praised British assistance during the devastating floods and said Pakistan appreciated valuable assistance from the international community and its friends in its hour of distress.
The British home secretary said the British government’s continued support to the democratic dispensation in overcoming difficulties due to war against terrorism and the devastation caused by unprecedented floods. The British minister also called on Prime Minister Gilani.
According to another statement issued by the Prime Minister’s House, Gilani said that “despite daunting challenges Pakistan will continue to fight the menace of terrorism for the sake of peace and prosperity of the world”. He said poverty, lack of education and under development were the “root causes” of extremism and terrorism.
May was quoted in the statement as saying she “appreciated” Pakistan’s efforts and its role as a bulwark against terrorism to contribute towards the regional and world’s stability. “She said her government wants to work in a cooperative way with Pakistan on matters relating to counter terrorism.”
The statement said Gilani proposed cooperation between Pakistani and British intelligence agencies during talks with the visiting British home secretary. “The prime minister proposed that Pakistan and Britain should consider a mechanism as well as parameters for cooperation between their security agencies,” it said.
“He further stressed upon sharing of information and real time intelligence to enable authorities for taking the preemptive measures against any possible threat to the UK and other western countries from terrorists.”
