Britain to increase number of diplomats in Middle East and South Asia

Britain is to station more diplomats in the Middle East and South Asia as part of the fight against extremism, Foreign Secretary David Miliband wrote in a Sunday newspaper.
The number of diplomats in these areas will be increased by 32 per cent, Miliband wrote in The Sunday Times, while 107 million euros (158 million dollars) will be invested in Pakistan over the next three years to fight terrorism and extremism there.
The additional diplomats would in particular endeavour to build indigenous contacts. The Foreign Ministry in London denied reports that the number of diplomats stationed in European countries would be reduced. It is still undecided where the additional diplomats will come from, a ministry spokesman said.