Britain on Wednesday promised closer co-operation with Pakistan on counter-terrorism and economic development to help fight Taliban militants. After talks in London, President Asif Ali Zardari and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown fleshed out plans for a "strategic dialogue" that Brown had already mooted in a visit to Pakistan last month.
"We need a more comprehensive approach ... spanning economic development, strengthening our institutions (and) improved security through deeper co-operation on both counter-terrorism and other issues," Brown told a joint news conference. Under the strategic dialogue, the British prime minister will meet annually with the president and prime minister of Pakistan to set objectives.
"We will focus mutual efforts to overcome threats from militancy, terrorism and extremism, to bring stability and to reduce poverty," Zardari and Brown said in a joint statement. Britain has announced it will channel 665 million pounds ($1 billion) of development aid to Pakistan in the next four years, half of it aimed at improving education and healthcare.
Brown said Britain will also give Pakistan 12 million pounds in humanitarian aid to help people fleeing the fighting in the Swat valley. Britain will press for a "significantly enhanced trade relationship" between Pakistan and the European Union giving Pakistan greater access to EU markets, the joint statement said.
Brown said Pakistan had committed to work for stability in Afghanistan, where more than 8,000 British troops are fighting the Taliban. Pakistan also recognised the importance of normalising its relations with India, the joint statement said.
Zardari played down concerns about Pakistan's nuclear arsenal falling into militant hands, saying officials from other governments were "quite satisfied with the situation in Pakistan and with the command and control system that Pakistan already has."
He dismissed as "incorrect" a survey by the BBC's Urdu language service which estimated that only 38 percent of Pakistan's north-west frontier province and surrounding areas was under full government control. Pakistan and the UK agreed to further broaden their co-operation and partnership by establishing a strategic dialogue through four points to promote mutual prosperity and stability.
President Asif Ali Zardari was assisted at the talks by Pakistan High Commissioner to the UK Wajid Shamsul Hasan, Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar, Deputy High Commissioner Asif Durrani and other senior officials of the Chancery. President Zardari said the two countries recognise that these threats can only be overcome in the long term by improving prospects for sustainable economic development, education and opportunities for young people. "We are committed to a long term partnership on these issues."
The other point of the strategy is the normalisation of relations with India and efforts to bring stability in Afghanistan to lessen the pressure on Pakistan. Brown said the UK supported Pakistani government in establishing the Friends of Democratic Pakistan group and will work with Pakistan to ensure that his strategic dialogue contributes to and enhances the work of the friends.
President Zardari expressed and re-emphasised the commitment of his Government to defeat terrorism and violent extremism. To this Brown spoke of his faith in Pakistan's ability to meet the challenges it faces. According to the joint statement, the UK recognised the significant achievement of the Pakistani government in stabilising the economy and keeping Pakistan's IMF programme on track.
The Pakistani leader thanked Brown for promoting democracy in Pakistan and help in ending military dictatorship. He said Pakistan has always looked at Britain during its hour of need and the UK had been hosting Pakistan political leaders who were forced to exile by repressive military regimes in the past.
President Zardari said winning the battle of ideas against violent extremists and those who support them is crucially important to both the countries. He said Pakistan had sought peace in Swat and the resolution in this regard was unanimously passed by the Parliament. However, he said the religious elements attempted to challenge the writ of the Government by spreading to other areas which forced the authorities to take action.
Responding to another question, President Zardari said Taliban had been hurling threats to the elected members of the Parliament in order to spread fear but he was confident that this threat will be nullified through democracy. The Pakistani Head of the State further said his country was striving to resolve the issue in tribal areas through a policy of dialogue, deterrence and dialogue and was confident that the support and assistance of the International community, the Government would be able to achieve desirable goals.
The British Prime Minister was questioned on his recent visit to Pakistan and asked whether he had suggested to the PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif to join the Federal Cabinet to strengthen the hands of President Zardari. However, Brown categorically stated this was not at all discussed with Sharif through other issues relating to regional security, strengthening Pakistan democratic institutions and ways of dealing with the Taliban threat were deliberated.
Zardari also suggested that the Taliban were planning to create a "new world order" and said the fight against the insurgents was a "long-term endeavour." President Zardari's troops are risking their lives fighting extremists," Brown said.
"We will help provide shelter, water, food, and sanitation for those people who have been displaced by these terrorist acts." Zardari said terrorism posed a "challenge to our way of life" and its defeat would be a "long-term endeavour." Pakistan has asked Washington for "ownership" of US drones carrying out attacks on its territory, President Asif Ali Zardari said.
"Democracy doesn't believe in half measures. We've asked for the ownership of the drones," he said, when asked about reports that the US has agreed to pass control of drone aircraft to Islamabad. Zardari said Islamabad was "negotiating terms" with the US over the drones, which have long been a source of tension between Washington and Islamabad.