President Pervez Musharraf and British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Sunday in a meeting at the Governor House here agreed to further cement relations between the two sides to fight extremism and terrorism.
The two leaders agreed that restoration of peace in Afghanistan is a crucial issue. Blair said that defeating terrorism would take a long time, but lauded co-operation of Pakistan in this direction.
Later, addressing a joint news conference the two leaders announced that they had consensus views on all major issues. The exchange of views between them had led to an understanding and an improvement in ties between the two sides, Musharraf said.
But he warned that military action alone would not defeat the Taliban in Afghanistan. He called for political and economic steps, along with military action, to deal with the militant Taliban, and restore peace in Afghanistan. The international community should give ''Marshall Plan-like package'' for reconstruction and economic development in Afghanistan, particularly in the south-eastern areas, President Musharraf said.
Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri, Pakistani High Commissioner in the United Kingdom Dr Maleeha Lodhi and senior officials were also present on the occasion. The President said that war on terrorism in Afghanistan could not be won by military action alone. "We have to come up with a broader strategy, and this strategy must involve political elements and reconstruction and development," he said.
He said, "I never said that war against Taliban can not be won. I never believe in accepting defeat before an enemy. We must win this war."
He said: "We need to put our house in order here on our side and make sure that support (for Taliban) is cut off. But the main battle is in Afghanistan."
He argued and pointed out that his country was working hard to stop extremist elements here country from supporting the Taliban. "The Taliban problem is an Afghan problem, which is in the south-eastern region of Afghanistan, being supported by elements from this side."
He added that its solution lay in what was done in Afghanistan and not what was being done in Pakistan.
"Pakistan is certainly taking action here against elements which are supporting whatever is happening in south-eastern region of Afghanistan," he said. He said that Pakistan was doing much more than its capacity. "We have suffered about 600 dead in Afghanistan. Now if you think that we are suffering dead by not doing anything, or not doing enough, then you are not looking at reality," he said. "We must look at realities and keep re-adjusting strategies, besides finding out new solutions to the problem. That is what Pakistan is doing."
He said that Pakistan was the sole country, which was trying to implement the whole package aimed at addressing all aspects, including military, political, administrative and reconstruction.
However, he pointed out that more actions were needed from Afghanistan side, as the Taliban problem was on the Afghanistan side and the battle had to be won on that side (Afghanistan).
"Pakistan is against terrorism, extremism and Talibanisation, and Pakistanis are against any kind of Talibanisation that is backward culture of rejecting democracy and imposing very obscurantist kind of culture on Pakistan society," the President said, and added that Pakistan had rejected Talibanisation, and even the Afghan people would not like it (Talibanism).
"I believe in seeing the present, and trying to resolve disputes", Musharraf said, adding that "the resolution of Palestine issue would help overcome what was happening in Iraq, Lebanon and Afghanistan, besides creating effect against international terrorism."
Talking about ways and means to enhance trade with the UK, the President said that the two sides discussed trade and economic relations in the meeting and he also informed the British Prime Minister about Pakistan''s relations with India and efforts to settle the issues, including Kashmir, Siachen and Sir Creek. He expressed the hope that his meeting with the British Prime Minister would go a long way in strengthening relations between the two countries.
The British Prime Minister pledged to double the UK development aid for Pakistan to £480 million ($960 million), which he said was meant for over three years to support educational reforms, aimed at countering the influence of Islamic seminaries (madrassahs).
Terming the talks "immensely constructive", Tony Blair praised Musharraf for his courage, saying that his leadership had put Pakistan on this journey of "change and modernisation".
According to him, Britain''s relations with Pakistan were at their highest point for many years, and commended the role of Islamabad for extending co-operation in what he said "counter-terrorism".
"I think we are seeing a strengthening of the relationship at every level, which I welcome enormously," Blair said.
Pledging his commitment to fighting the Taliban, he said: "This terrorism that we are facing, of which one manifestation is what has happened in Afghanistan, has been a long time going, and will take a long time to defeat."
He said: "Nobody should be in any doubt at all about our commitment to Afghanistan," he said, adding that it was of fundamental importance to global security "to stick with it and see the job through."
"We are facing a threat from people who want to Talibanise our society, to prevent our society from making progress," he said, adding that to check terrorism and extremism, there was need to take necessary security measures, and support the democratic will of the people in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Referring to the debate on ways to tackle global terrorism, he said that the solution to this problem had different aspects, "some of which pertain to security and some of which are ideas which challenge the ideology of extremism and some of which have to do with reconstruction and development with economic progress."
About the presence of Nato forces in Afghanistan to fight terrorism and extremism, he said that Nato''s summit meeting, to be held in 10 days, would analyse what further was required to do in Afghanistan. "There should be no doubt about our commitment what we are doing to help Afghanistan, recognising that it is not just about security," Blair stated. He said he also recognised the importance of reconstruction and development, which needed to be done along with security efforts.
He said that his country supported Pakistan''s economic development and also was supporting its ongoing reforms process, especially in the education sector. He said that Pakistan had achieved a lot of economic development over the past couple of years and there had been significant reduction in poverty level and the per capita income had been doubled.
Blair also lauded President Musharraf''s efforts for improving Pakistan''s relations with India, and said that all outstanding issues, including Kashmir, needed to be addressed in a different and better way.
About partnership between UK and Pakistan universities, he said the number had been increased to 50 from 15, and added that the establishment of new universities in Pakistan, with the help of foreign universities, would bring a very positive impact on Pakistan''s education sector, and the economy.
Regarding Iran''s nuclear issue, the British Prime Minister said that Iran should abide by obligations of IAEA and the UN.
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