By Xinhua,
Islamabad : Britain supports Pakistan’s reconciliation process with the militants “but the talks should beheld with those who wanted to surrender or lay arms”, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said.
Miliband arrived in Peshawar, the capital of Pakistan’s North West Frontier Province (NWFP) on a two-day visit for talks with the new government.
The new provincial government has formed a committee of senior officials to hold dialogue with the militants in the Swat valley and tribal regions.
“Britain supports reconciliation, but it should be on clear grounds. Talks should be held with those who wanted to surrender or lay arms,” Miliband said on Sunday.
He said that Britain was concerned over the presence of militants at the Pakistani-Afghan border areas but noted that the process of reconciliation was in progress.
Miliband did not agree with the notion at the international level that the NWFP is not safe for foreigners.
“I have not found any such threat in the province as being projected in the western countries,” Miliband said.
He said that Britain would continue a multi-pronged and long-term relations with Pakistan for its active role in war against terrorism, adding that relations between the two countries are focused on three fields including economic, political and security.
“I have come here to express friendship of Britain with people of Pakistan and NWFP,” he said.
Miliband is scheduled to call on Pakistan’s President Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and hold talks with Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Monday, officials said.
“Terrorism is a global concern and also for Pakistan,” he said, adding Pakistan has faced a lot of difficulties due to its role in war against terror and is still passing through a difficult phase.
The British government, he added, has extended its support to Pakistan for countering terrorism and will continue it in future.