News
Friday, June 24, 2011
UK to back Pakistan at all forums and fronts: Hague
* British foreign secretary assures full support in war against terrorism
* Says UK involved in peace talks with Afghan Taliban
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is on the front line of terrorism and it is right that the UK stands with it to combat terrorism, British Foreign Secretary William Hague said in a press conference on Thursday.
Hague, who arrived in Islamabad on his second trip to Pakistan since taking up his post last year, said that Pakistan was making bigger sacrifices against terrorism than any other country on the planet and assured strong cooperation of UK to fight the scourge of terrorism. He met with Acting Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar to continue discussions on the UK-Pakistan enhanced strategic dialogue that was launched by the prime ministers of the two countries in April this year.
At the press conference held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hague said, “There is an unbreakable partnership between Pakistan and the UK. There is much that binds our countries together.” Stressing on the need to continue the relationship, he added, “It is in the interest of both our countries to sustain an enduring, broad-based and strategic relationship based on mutual respect, mutual trust and mutual benefit.”
“We have reviewed the steps taken already to meet the aims set out by our two PMs of increasing trade in goods and services between our two countries to £2.5 billion by 2015. The foreign secretary said that Pakistan was on the front line of terrorism, making bigger sacrifices against terrorism than any other country on the planet, and it was right that the UK should stand with them to combat terrorism. The secretary said they were committed to increase their mutual cooperation including through their national security dialogues” “On education, the UK will focus over the next four years on helping Pakistan get more than four million children into school; recruiting and training an additional 90,000 new teachers and providing more than six million sets of text books.”
Hague visited the Police Line Headquarters in Islamabad along with Interior Minister Rehman Malik to pay tribute to the sacrifices of martyred policemen and lay floral wreath at the National Police Martyrs’ Monument. Speaking to victims of terrorism at the event, the secretary said, “The UK recognises that no country has suffered more from the scourge of terrorism than Pakistan.
Hague said Britain was involved in talks with the Taliban in Afghanistan. “Contacts do take place, but this is an Afghan-led process and Britain will assist and facilitate,” he added while calling on Pakistan to play a constructive role in reconciliation efforts in Afghanistan and welcomed improved relations between the two neighbours. “Pakistan has important and responsible role to play in Afghanistan,” he said.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk