By NNN-APP,
London : British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has welcomed Pakistan’s military action in Waziristan against the extremist elements and said his country will do more to help in the economic development of the South Asian nation.
Briefing journalists belonging to the Commonwealth countries at the Downing Street on the eve of the Commonwealth Heads Government meeting in Trinidad and Tobago, he said: “We recognized that Pakistan Government has taken increased action against Al-Qaeda and Pakistan Taliban and that there are 30,000 Pakistan troops in Waziristan.”
Brown said the UK was contributing substantially to the economic development of Pakistan with focus on education and health care as a part of its comprehensive strategy for the region.
“We want the people of Pakistan and Afghanistan to understand that Britain is on their side against the threat of terrorism both in their countries and indeed in our country,” he said.
Saying that global terrorism is a major challenge, Brown added that the UK wants to help those countries who have suffered from this scourge.
Responding to a question, he said Britain wants both Pakistan and India, founding members of Commonwealth, to work in the closest of co-operation.
He said the last year’s events in Mumbai soured the relations between the two countries but at the same time he was hopeful that co-operation between the two countries happen that the highest level in the next few months .
“I think that is the key to any difficulties that lay between the two countries. Dialogue is necessary to ensure results.”
Brown also explained the British policy in Afghanistan which he said is to complement military strategy with political one and to push for a more transparent and corruption free governance.
“What we also want to do is to encourage those people not wedded to the Taliban to renounce violence and join the political process.”
He also called on the 43-nation coalition to share the burden in Afghanistan. The UK has already announced a further increase of 500 troops which will take its total deployment to 9500 in Afghanistan.
Brown was hopeful that re-elected President Hamid Karzai will take enough measures in the coming months against corruption and provide clean governance to the people to benefit from it.
Regarding the Commonwealth Summit, he said global climate will top the agenda. Brown said the presence of UN chief Ban Ki-moon at the conference will be a significant step toward a global climate deal that will be discussed in Copenhagen in two weeks’ time.
The gathering of leaders from the 53-nation body in Trinidad is the last major international meeting before the December 7-18 talks in Copenhagen.
The presence in Trinidad of two non-Commonwealth leaders-French President Nicholas Sarkozy and Danish Prime Minister Larks Loekke Rasmussen, who will host UN talks in Copenhagen, has clearly indicated the focus of the summit on global warming.
The Commonwealth leaders will also deal with health issues as well as Zimbabwe. “We hope to be able to announce what progress we are making on infant mortality and health care services for children and mothers,” Brown said.
Regarding Zimbabwe, the British premier noted that the African country can return to the organization if it takes necessary steps and deliver on the requirements of the Global Political Agreement dealing with judicial, economic, constitutional and human right reforms.