Pakistan and Britain have held detailed discussions on a wide-range of issues including non-proliferation, combating terrorism, counter-narcotics, transnational organised crime, and co-operation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, the Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.
The discussion was held in the 2nd round of Pakistan-UK Strategic Dialogue was held in London on 31 October, the statement said. Tariq Osman Hyder, Additional Secretary (UN&EC), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led an inter-departmental delegation from Pakistan to the talks while the British side was headed by David Richmond, Director General Defence and Intelligence, Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
The two sides held detailed discussions on a wide-range of issues including non-proliferation, combating terrorism, counter-narcotics, transnational organised crime, and co-operation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Regional issues including Afghanistan and South Asia were also covered.
The first round of the Strategic Dialogue was held in October 2005 in Islamabad following the agreement reached between President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Tony Blair in 2004 to further deepen and broaden the bilateral relationship between the two countries.
Hyder also called on Sir Peter Ricketts, Permanent Under Secretary of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Sir Richetts stated that Pakistan was central to Britain's foreign policy and Britain attached great importance to building strong and forward-looking relations with Pakistan.