President General Pervez Musharraf's visit to Britain has laid down strong basis and gives a new impetus to Pak- UK strategic partnership in various fields of their expanding co-operation, said British MPs here on Sunday. "The visit is the most positive and most constructive" for their expanding ties British MP from Birmingham Khalid Mehmood told APP while commenting on President's recently visit to Britain.
Musharraf had a "full discussion with Prime Minister Blair on how the relations between Pakistan and the UK should proceed," and it would go a long way to further promote trade and defence relations between the two countries, he said.
The three-day official visit to Britain which he wrapped up on Tuesday was "very useful for both Britain and Pakistan and it will help improve our trade relations", said British MP from Glasgow Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar.
During his visit which could not have been better timed, the President held wide-ranging talks with British Prime Minister Blair at the 10- Downing Street and addressed an unprecedented numbers of British MPs in the Gladstone room of the House of Commons.
His address to the community in London and Manchester won him kudos from Pakistani diaspora living in the UK. He gave a candid talk at the International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS)- one of the leading Think Tanks in Europe and became second Head of State after French President Jacques Chirac to speak at this prestigious institution within a short span of one month.
Musharraf and Blair's decision to have bilateral consultations at the highest level, Sarwar said this showed " the two countries have very close relationship and we want to build on those close relationship."
A joint statement "A Partnership for Peace and prosperity" issued at the conclusion of the talks reflected the current state of an expanding and institutionalised relations between the two countries in key strategic areas. The annual summit-level consultation, will prove a catalyst in further cementing this relationship in days ahead, said British MPs and members of political parties.
Both the British MPs lauded Islamabad's envoy to London Dr Maleeha Lodhi for doing all the groundwork and playing a crucial role in making the visit a success.
"President's visit has given a new impetus to bilateral ties at a time when Pakistan is playing a global role on so many issues of critical importance to the world," Maleeha told APP while commenting on the successful conclusion of President's visit to Britain.
His visit "has given a new direction to this relationship for the 21th century. The defining theme of the relationship in the new century is partnership for peace and through prosperity," she said.
Maleeha said the President had set three objectives for his visit here, as indeed to the other countries that he has visited on this tour.
First was to strengthen political ties, second was to promote trade and investment and commercial relations and the third was to enhance Pakistan's image and to remove misperceptions.
"All three objectives were achieved during his visit to the UK as his many public appearances and his many address, in the House of Commons as well as International Institute of Strategic Studies has clearly communicated Pakistan's position on key issues and helped removed misperceptions on a number of issues," said the High Commissioner.
Musharraf's address to a large number members of both the House of Commons and House of Lords left a mark on British MPs as he clearly put across the country's viewpoint on many important issues of global concern like terrorism, Palestine and Kashmir. Tom Cox, British MP said President's address to an unprecedented number of British MPS was an "outstanding success."
Their response was excellent, said Cox, adding Maleeha "put in a great deal of effort to make the meeting successful."
"This to my recollection, has never happened before to have so many parliamentarians listen to a Head of State," remarked British MP Khalid Mehmood while referring to President's address in the Commons.
They were impressed by his address and the advances Pakistan had made over the last few years and "they were highly encouraged by the frank discussion by the President over an hour with them," said Khalid.
Musharraf "is very popular with British parliamentarians", said MP Sarwar. They consider him a very courageous man who has taken tough decision to side with the international community in its derive against global terrorism.
The President had categorically stated that any final decision on the Kashmir issue would be in consultation and with approval of Kashmiris, said Sarwar.
Both India and Pakistan as well as Kashmiris have to show flexibility for resolving the issue of Kashmir which is necessary for economic development of the countries, said Sarwar.
Member of Liberal Democrats Executive and its Parliamentary Candidate for European Parliament Qasim Afza said "that dozens of our Lib Dem parliamentarians attended the Commons meeting amongst the 100 plus members from across both houses, and all political divides to hear the Presidents speech."
"This is a visionary approach, which will take time to develop, it is certainly a step in the right direction, we need to build bridges before they can be crossed," said Afzal.
The President visit was " a breakthrough" in Pak- UK relations, said the only Asian and Muslim member of the ruling Labour Party Central Executive and Prospective Candidate from Dewsbury Shahid Malik. It showed he was "a key figure in the world and what a key and strategic role Pakistan is playing in the world."
It required calibre of an "international statesman" to steer the country in perilous storm which swept the world in the aftermath of 9/11 events and President Musharraf succeeded in that , said Shahid.
"It is a significant step forward, the way he has been received both in Washington and London," said Shahid , the young upcoming British Muslim politician.
He said it would be unfair not to give credit to Dr Maleeha whose calibre and efforts ensured success of President(tm)s visit . Her astute skills helped improve image of the country in Britain, said Shahid.
President's visit has highlighted the defining theme of strategic partnership between the two countries and the joint statement on occasion reflects both convergence of views and holds a vision for their future ties.
President Musharraf shared with the Prime Minister his vision for enlightened moderation in the Islamic world and briefed him about various measures taken by Pakistan to eliminate extremism and militancy in the country, said a joint statement issued by the 10- Downing Street at the end of their talks.
"They agreed on the need for a concerted international effort to tackle the root causes of terrorism and extremism, including through addressing poverty and injustice, and by providing people with a greater stake in the democracy and development of their own societies. They agreed on the need for judicious resolution of conflict, including in the Middle East and South Asia," it said.
The statement acknowledges Pakistan's global role in the context of its role in fight against global terrorism and UN Peace Keeping Forces as it was contributing more troops than any other country in the world.
Both the leaders welcomed "the deepening defence relationship between their countries, including through the success of the annual meetings of the Defence Co-operation Forum".
British Chief of Defence Staff General Sir Michael Walker called on the President during his stay in London and discussed with him ways to further promote relations between the two countries.
Musharraf and Blair have commonality of views that "a fairer international trading regime" which could give greater market access in such a way which could enable the developing countries to reap dividends of an increasingly open world economy.
A British trade mission will be visiting Pakistan in February to explore possibilities for bolstering trade relations between London and Islamabad.
Britain " would be providing up to $44 million over two years in development assistance to support Pakistan's long term development and poverty reduction initiatives.
Britain Government would do its best to convince the European Union to open the trade for Pakistan because of its fight in terrorism" and it enjoyed a good geo-strategic position for promoting trade in the region, said MP Sarwar He said "more exports from Pakistan can create more jobs there. One of President's key messages was that he was for trade and not for aid."
The UK is Pakistan's the largest trading partner and bilateral trade between the two sides in 2003-04 was $1.3 billion and the fourth largest in the world. Islamabad's exports to the UK, mainly textile, are close to One billion Dollars.
Britain is the second largest source of foreign direct investment in Pakistan and its total investment since 1989-90 to date was $1.84 billion which accounted for 22 per cent of the total foreign investment while 102 British companies were operating in Pakistan.
Britain Export Credit Guarantee Department has resumed medium term cover for export, projects and investment for Pakistan from May 2004 and had written off $19 million Islamabad's debt in May 2004.
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