By NNN-APP,
Islamabad : Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani expressed his government’s keen desire to further consolidate the diplomatic, political and economic ties with the UK.
In a meeting here with a delegation of UK House of Commons’ Defence Select Committee, he said that the friendly relations between the two countries are rooted in the long historical bonds.
The delegation was headed by chairman of the committee James Arbuthnot.
The Prime Minister said the deep-rooted bilateral relations represent shared values and commonality of perceptions on many regional and global issues.
He appreciated the ongoing cooperation between the two countries in diverse fields including areas of defence.
He called for increased military training assistance provided by UK to Pakistan Armed Forces personnel under the Defence Related Activities Programme and enhancement of defence cooperation through deliberations of Pakistan-UK Defence Cooperation Forum (DCF).
The Prime Minister said Pakistan views the UK as its key economic partner being the second largest investor and third largest trading partner.
While asking for increased UK investment in Pakistan he stated that Pakistan is offering level-playing field to both local and foreign investors and every sector of its economy is open for investment.
The Prime Minister while referring to numerous challenges confronted by the new democratic government expressed the government’s strong commitment for overcoming these problems through implementation of policies supported by the people.
He said that restoration of law and order and economy are the main priorities of his government.
He said that he is mindful of the fact that a single incident of terrorism in Pakistan leads to flight of foreign capital from the country besides discouraging the flow of foreign investment.
The Prime Minister said that terrorism and extremism are the global phenomena and Pakistan being a front line state has sacrificed a lot, including the assassination of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed.
He stressed that war against terrorism is in Pakistan’s own national interest as well as in the interest of the humanity at large.
He said that his government in consultation with its coalition partners has adopted a three-pronged strategy to fight terrorism.
He said Pakistan has entered into political dialogue with those elements that have renounced terrorism by laying down arms, accelerating the pace of economic development in the country especially in tribal areas and resorting to military means only if the agreements are violated.
Pakistan, he said, would never negotiate with militants or terrorists nor allow its soil to be used by foreigners against another country.
Talking about Afghanistan the Prime Minister said that a strong, stable and prosperous Afghanistan is in Pakistan’s best interest and Pakistan will continue to help reconstruction efforts there.
He said Pakistan’s assistance to Afghanistan is focused on building of physical infrastructure and restoration of health and education facilities.
The Prime Minister said that Pakistan is making all out efforts to prevent cross border infiltration by installing biometric system on entry points and setting up of 900 check posts on the border compared to the 100 check posts on the Afghan side of the border which, he said, need to be increased at least to Pakistan’s level.
He said fencing of the border is another option being considered by his government.
He called for increased coordination between Pakistan and Afghanistan at all levels and exchange of intelligence between Pakistan and Afghanistan as well as between Pakistani and NATO authorities to curb the infiltration of undesirable elements to and from both sides.
He said the repatriation and resettlement of about three million Afghan refugees in Afghanistan will also help reduce illegal movements on the border.
He said the international community needs to come forward to help resettle the refugees in their homeland with honour and dignity.
The Prime Minister said there is credible evidence that increased poppy cultivation in Afghanistan and the money thus generated is feeding the terrorism networks.
The British MPs, while felicitating the Prime Minister on assuming office expressed the desire to further enhance bilateral relations in all fields.
They also told him that they would also be visiting Afghanistan soon.
Senator Nisar Ahmed Memon, Chairman, Standing Committee on Defence and Defence Production and Acting Secretary Foreign Affairs also attended the meeting.
Other members of the delegation included MPs David Borrow, David Crausby, David Harvard, Adam Holloway, Bernard Jenkin, Kevan Jones and Richard Younger-Ross.