Speaking at a news conference in London on Wednesday, alongside US President Barack Obama, British Prime Minister David Cameron made remarks that would be widely welcomed in this country - all the more so considering that during his last year's visit to India he had made uncharitable comments about Pakistan, accusing it of "promoting the export of terrorism" and being allowed to "look both ways."
He told journalists, "people are asking questions about our relationship, so we need to be clear: Pakistan has suffered more from terrorism than any other country in the world. Their enemy is our enemy." This indeed is a statement of facts. As many as 35,000 Pakistanis have died in terrorist attacks, while nearly 5,000 soldiers and policemen fell fighting violent extremists. And Pakistan is still counting its dead. The 10 attacks since the killing of Osama bin Laden and the earlier ones in bazaars and Sufi shrines, show that the violent extremists attacking people in different parts of the country are not merely reacting to military operations in the tribal areas; there is a method in their madness.
Which is to destabilise the country for the achievement of their political goals. Ideologically inspired militants using Pakistan as their base of operations are as much a threat to the security of this country as they are to Britain and the US. Sadly, many of the terrorists plots uncovered in those countries had some sort of connection to our tribal badlands. Hence, Cameron's "their enemy is..." comments need not be seen as empty rhetoric.
It is in the best interest of both Pakistan and the Western countries to stay together in the fight against violent extremists. The US and Britain also badly need Pakistan's help to resolve Afghanistan, where, as Cameron put it "we are now preparing to turn a corner." But there is a genuine commonality of interest on the terrorism issue.
The naval airbase attack has created a new sense of urgency for the government to stamp out militancy in all its forms and manifestations. At Wednesday meeting of the Defence Committee of the Cabinet (DCC), Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani spoke of the country entering a "defining phase" in the fight against terrorism. That resolve must not be allowed to fizzle out; the government must undertake a thorough review of its anti-terrorism strategy, and act decisively against all militants threatening the peace and security of this society.
Britain and the US, of course, can help both with material resources and sharing of intelligence information. They can offer much bigger help though by nudging India towards a resolution of the Kashmir issue. The nature of Pak-India relations being what it is, worries about Indian intentions are a constant distraction for our soldiers.
The longer-term peace and stability of this region, and indeed the wider world, calls for resolution of Pak-India issues of conflict. Obama has indicated on occasions more than one that he is aware of the dangers the situation poses, and wants them averted. So has Cameron. We can only hope they realise that it is time to do something about it.
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