British Home Secretary Alan Johnson on Tuesday assured UK''s commitment to continue to assist Pakistan in war against terrorism, saying his country wants to see Pakistan as a strong, stable and a peaceful country. "The UK will help Pakistan strengthen its economy by making complete peace after elimination of terrorists," Alan said while addressing a joint press conference with Rehman Malik, Federal Interior Minister here.
Visiting British Home Secretary called on Interior Minister at the Interior Ministry and after the meeting, both addressed the press conference. Alan reiterated his government''s resolve to make the British visa process in Pakistan easy, saying the process will be completed within 15 days from next month. The UK has cut short the duration of UK visa processing for Pakistanis from 60 to 15 days, he added.
UK visa office had to be shifted to United Arab Emirates (UAE) due to unsatisfactory IT system here in Pakistan but now it is being relocated back as late by November this year, he added. He said a joint task force will be established for return of Pakistanis illegally staying in UK. "We are working with Pakistani authorities on this issue and the task force under consideration will make sure the return of Pakistanis staying illegally in the UK," Alan said.
Speaking on the occasion, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said that extremism is not linked with any particular country. "Terrorists and extremists have no borders and any other limitation so that no particular country should be targeted for this menace," he said. Terrorism is an international phenomena and it needs joint efforts for eradication, Malik said and called upon international community to support Pakistan in its fight against terrorism.
Pakistan, he said has played an important role in war against terrorism and used all-out efforts and energies to crush the resistance of terrorists in Malakand, Waziristan and other parts of NWFP.
Meanwhile, during the meeting the Home Ministers of Britain and Pakistan discussed the issues related to Pakistan''s efforts being rendered in way of counterterrorism besides two courtiers all-out co-operation in anti-militancy, sources privy to meeting told this scribe. They also discussed the Pak-British visa matters and release of arrested Pakistanis in United Kingdom, sources said.
Meanwhile, talking to reporters after his visit to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) to inquire after the UN office blast victims, Federal Minister for Interior Rehman Malik expressed fear of more terrorist attacks in the country saying terrorists could carry out more attacks in frustration as their resistance was crushed in military operation.
"They are at run and forces will not spare them until they are killed or surrendered," he added. Malik said the person appeared before the media on Monday, as Hakimullah Mehsud seems to be his brother. He said action against specific targets of Mehsud group of Taliban is under way and it will be expanded if needed. Taliban leadership has been eliminated. Rehman said Taliban leadership in Swat meeting had decided to carry out attacks after Eid.
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