Federal Information and Broadcasting Minister Sherry Rehman has said that Pakistan is aggressively pursuing its own counter-extremism agenda while extending co-operation to the international community for collaborative efforts against terrorism.
"Pakistan is steadfast in its commitment towards elimination of extremism and for maintaining peaceful relations with all its neighbours," said Sherry during a meeting with British High Commissioner to Pakistan Robert Brinkley, who called on her at the Pakistan Television Headquarters here. The Minister held a wide-ranging discussion with Brinkley on Pakistan-UK bilateral relations and recent developments in the region following the terror attacks in Mumbai last month.
"Our government is working to enhance Pakistan's strategic partnership with the UK in our battle against extremism and for our shared goal to bring peace and stability to the region," said the Minister while recalling that the UK was the first European country to establish high-level contacts with the new democratic government in Pakistan.
Briefing the British High Commissioner on her bilateral visit to London undertaken last November, Sherry Rehman said that the Information Ministry was looking at a number of areas for further bilateral co-operation on counter-terrorism strategic communications and outreach.
"Our government is clear on the importance of maintaining regional peace as a prerequisite for combating extremism through collaborative efforts," she said. "It is in the interest of Pakistan and India, as well as the international community to urgently reduce the danger of a conflict and protect the India-Pakistan peace process which carries enormous benefits for the whole region," she added.
The Minister said that in the wake of the Mumbai attacks, Pakistan had taken several important steps to oblige the United Nations Security Council's sanctions against the banned Jama'at-ud-Da'awa (JuD) and remained vigilant of all banned and suspect organisations. Acknowledging Pakistan's counter-terrorism initiatives, Brinkley commended the government's efforts to de-escalate the recent Pakistan-India tensions.
The British High Commissioner reiterated the UK government's support for the democratic government of Pakistan in its battle against terrorism. Brinkley also informed the Minister of various areas in which Pakistan and the UK were co-operating for enhancing Pakistan's counter-terrorism and security capabilities. -PR