Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende on Thursday expressed concerned over the violent unrest in Pakistan and called on Islamabad to return to democratic norms. "We need a development in Pakistan that can lead to a normal democratic development. The fact that you respect human rights, that Pakistan can contribute to a safer world," he said.
"We need Pakistan for more safety and security in the world," he said. The Netherlands is a key ally in the US-led war against the Taliban in neighbouring Afghanistan, where it has hundreds of troops based in the central province of Uruzgan. "We are worried about people that come from Pakistan to Afghanistan, with all the difficulties. It is important to work together and therefore you need stability," he said. "The risk now in Pakistan is that there is no stability."