Britain has assured Pakistan its full support in war against terrorism and to provide help to enhance the counter-terrorism capacity and enable it to eliminate terrorism. "Pakistan is effectively fighting against terrorism and it is imperative to strengthen the counter terrorism mechanism in Pakistan", said Dr Liam Fox Shadow Secretary of State for Defence UK here on Thursday.
Dr Fox was talking to Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar in a meeting held here in Defence Ministry. UK fully realised the difficulties of Pakistan and wanted to assist it in terms of training, resources and equipment so as to enhance its capacity to weed out the menace of terrorism, Dr Fox said.
During the meeting two leaders exchanged views on Pakistan's role as frontline state against the war on terror, situation of Fata, Swat Peace Agreement and after effects of Mumbai blasts on Pak-India relations.
Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar said that Pakistan attaches utmost significance to its ties with UK and wanted to further expand and increase the multifaceted co-operation in the areas of common interests particularly defence. The Minister said that Pakistan was facing a lot of challenges and the war against terrorism was one of the biggest challenges, which required active international support to overcome it.
Pakistan has been a victim of terrorism and the menace has taken heavy toll on its economy, infrastructure and development, Ahmed Mukhtar said adding that international community needed to provide resources to strengthen its economy as well as capacity against the war on terror.
Dispelling the misperceived impression by certain circles about Swat Peace Agreement, the Minister said that the agreement would provide speedy justice and would go a long way in bringing peace, stability and prosperity to violence-hit Valley of Swat. He was appreciative of the UK stance on Mumbai attacks and especially referred to the British Foreign Secretary's David Milliband, statement according to which he had stated that Pakistan's state institutions were not involved in the Mumbai carnage.