By NNN-APP
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Islamabad : Pakistan and the United Kingdom on Thursday vowed to further enhance cooperation in the war against international terrorism by addressing the issue at political, social and economic fronts.
Addressing a joint press conference here at the Foreign Office following extensive talks, Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri and British Foreign Secretary David Miliband reiterated commitment by their respective governments against the ongoing efforts to counter terrorism.
“We agreed that defeating terror requires a long term strategy and a coordinated and cooperative approach, and resolved to continue our excellent cooperation in the area of counter-terrorism,� Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri stated while reading a prepared statement.
Kasuri in this regard stressed the importance of trade and investment opportunities as part of their counter terrorism strategy.
The British Foreign Secretary said he also discussed with his counterpart the terrorist activity particularly stemming from British-Pakistanis.
“We want to marginalise the small number who want to wreak havoc,� British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said when asked whether Britain raised the issue with Pakistan.
He said both the countries have a shared concern over the matter and pointed that over 800,000 Pakistanis based in the United Kingdom have expressed their determination to play their role in countering this threat.
About the situation in Afghanistan, the British Foreign Secretary said the situation was a concern for all and said 37 countries were operating there to support a democratically-elected Afghan government.
He said the approach was to provide political, economic and social support to help its people stand on their feet.
When asked about the measures to quell cross border movement along the Pak-Afghan border, Foreign Minister Kasuri said it was for the international community to help Pakistan in checking the movement.
He said only along this border, people wearing suicide-belts cross from either side and it was an extraordinary situation, not experienced elsewhere.
Kasuri said Pakistan on its part offered to completely seal the borders by mining it, however there was a strong reaction to it. Similarly it saw reaction on the idea to fence the 2400 km long border in the inhospitable terrain.
The British Foreign Secretary said not much progress had been made in this respect owing to the changing tactics by the terrorists. He however pointed that Britain believes in taking an economic, political and social approach to address the problems currently being faced by Afghanistan.
He said he also discussed this during his talks with the Afghan leadership.
David Miliband when asked to comment on the threats by some US officials to attack suspected al-Qaida hideout in Pakistan’s territory, referred to the recent statement by the United States that the right way forward was through partnership.
He said there was also a very strong partnership between the United Kingdom and the United States and all those involved in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).
Foreign Minister Kasuri termed the statements from the US “irresponsible and counter productive to efforts being made by the US and Pakistan in counter-terrorism efforts.�
He said Pakistan was waging the war against terrorism in its own national interest and added with a growing young population, “terrorism does not suit us.�
“Pakistan cannot develop economically and socially unless there is peace and security in the country,� Kasuri said.
Foreign Minister Kasuri said he also sought support from the UK in the context of European Union in building infrastructure in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas.
To a question about the investigation against MQM leader Altaf Hussain on the formal complaint lodged by Chief of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf Imran Khan, he said he would not like to comment on an ongoing investigation.
About the extradition of Rashid Rauf to UK, Miliband said Pakistan’s criminal justice system was working and UK believed that this was the right way forward.
Foreign Minister Kasuri termed his talks as “productive and fruitful� and welcomed the enhancement of development assistance to Pakistan from 236 million to 480 million Pound Sterling over next three years and appreciated the long term strategy employed by the UK’s Department For International Development (DFID) through a ten-year partnership agreement for supporting socio-economic development in Pakistan.
He said the two sides also reviewed their bilateral economic relations and expanding trade of US 2.107 billion dollars, that has doubled over the past four years.
Kasuri also sought UK’s assistance for the establishment of world-class university in Pakistan.