President Asif Ali Zardari in his Saturday's meeting with British Home Secretary Theresa May, underscored the need for further enhancing intelligence sharing mechanism with the UK to combat militancy and terrorism. Matters pertaining to Pakistan-UK bilateral relations, the role of Pak-origin British citizens in Pakistan and their positive contributions and operations against terrorism were discussed during the meeting.
Chairman, Pakistan People's Party, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was also present during the meeting. British Home Secretary Theresa May was accompanied by Charles Farr, DG Security and Counter Terrorism, and senior Home Office officials Fiona Cunningham and Faye Johnson while from Pakistan's side Secretary General Salman Farouqi, High Commissioner Wajid Shamusul Hasan, spokesperson Farhatullah Babar and other senior officials were also present during the meeting.
Briefing the media, spokesperson Farhatullah Babar said while discussing Pak-UK bilateral relations, the President highlighted the historical equation of the two countries and underscored the need to enhance multifaceted strategic partnership between the two countries. President Zardari said that in the ongoing war on extremism, Pakistan was moving forward despite heavy toll of human lives and material losses.
The President called for greater international support in assisting Pakistan in capacity building and overcoming the effects of war on the economy. The President said that Pakistan wanted peace in the region and has always supported every effort in this regard. He said that drug trafficking was one of the major issue in the region for its role in funding militants.
Babar said that President Zardari reiterated that Pakistan has always called upon the international community for concerted efforts to end the drug trafficking. He said that this was critical for durable peace, stability and socio-economic development of the region. The President reiterated his call for an integrated approach including promotion of alternative livelihood, agricultural development, eradication and reducing drugs consumption to check the menace.
Babar said that the President mentioned that Pakistan economy had suffered heavily due to operation against terror and devastating floods of last year. "Shrinking economic opportunities made the youth vulnerable to fall into the traps of militants," he said and called for creating economic opportunities for the youth.
The UK Home Secretary appreciated the efforts of Pakistan Government in operations against terror. She assured British Government's continued support to efforts of democratic dispensation in Pakistan to meet the challenge of militancy and overcoming economic difficulties.