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| Brown wants Pak militants quizzed by UK police |
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Monday, December 15, 2008
Says most terror plots linked to al-Qaeda in Pakistan, proposes new Pak-UK anti-terror pact
By Asim Yasin
ISLAMABAD: British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Sunday sought access to the activists of banned militant outfits in Pakistan arrested in the recent crackdown following the Mumbai attacks.
“We have asked Pakistan to provide access to our police to interview those detained in Pakistan in the recent crackdown against Mumbai attack suspects and a similar request has been made to the Indian prime minister to interview those who were arrested following the Mumbai attacks as three British citizens were also killed in this incident,” he said while addressing a joint press conference with President Asif Ali Zardari here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr following their talks.
Gordon Brown visited Pakistan on a short trip to the region to assess the situation following the Mumbai attacks and ease tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours. Earlier, he held talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh before travelling to Pakistan to meet President Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani separately.
President Asif Ali Zardari vowed his resolve not to allow the use of Pakistani land for terrorism and extended his country’s full cooperation to the international community for a probe into the Mumbai attacks.
President Zardari said Pakistan has already started investigation on its own but it wants India to complete its investigations and share the information with us. “If further leads are provided and there are any culprits on this side of the border, Pakistan will take action against them,” he added.
Brown said his country had deep interest in helping Pakistan against terrorism as three-quarters of the most serious terrorist plots investigated by the British authorities have links to al-Qaeda in Pakistan.
He said that Pakistan and the UK should work together to ensure that terrorists find no safe haven. “It is time for actions and not words so both the countries will continue to cooperate in a comprehensive counter-terrorism programme,” he added.
The British prime minister said in return for this action we will continue to expand our counter-terrorist assistance programme with Pakistan, and it will be more than ever, the most comprehensive anti-terrorist programme Britain has signed with any country.
He said President Zardari has assured him to cooperate with India in probing the Mumbai terrorist attack and to take action against those found involved. “President Zardari has proposed his authorities will attack those involved in Mumbai carnage,” he added.
He said terrorism is a global problem, terming Mumbai attack a “chilling reminder that we are all victims of terrorism.”The British prime minister said the two countries must forever remain vigilant against terrorism, vowing to enhance cooperation in security and intelligence sharing with Pakistan.
He said a counter-terrorism programme is continuing between Britain and Pakistan and his government will also help the country develop its bomb disposal capabilities, airport security and other related sectors.
He also urged Pakistan and India to develop better mechanism for consultation and dialogue to remove misunderstandings in the wake of Mumbai attacks. The British prime minister acknowledged that terrorism is a global problem and Pakistanis themselves have suffered on account of this problem.
He pointed out that Pakistan has had 50 suicide attacks this year as compared to only seven last year. He said during his discussions with President Zardari he has proposed a new Anti-Terror pact between Pakistan and the UK against terrorism.
He said the UK continues to extend more assistance to Pakistan for countering terrorism and the country has more comprehensive anti-terrorist programmes signed ever with any state. Gordon Brown also announced a programme worth six million pounds to help Pakistan tackle causes of radicalisation and strengthening democratic institutions.
The British prime minister said besides a six million Pound Sterling assistance to combat radicalisation, funds would be made available for better equipment and training of the bomb disposal squad, airport security, counter-terrorism measures and improvement of police and forensic capabilities.
He said through these measures we hope to do more to break the chain of terror that links the mountains of Afghanistan and Pakistan to the streets of UK and other countries around the world. “We will work to ensure that everything is done to make sure that terrorists are denied any safe haven in Pakistan,” he added.
Gordon Brown said the joint programme would be the largest of its kind ever undertaken by Britain, and that the two countries would share information, work together to improve airport security, and tackle centres of extremism.
He said the two countries would also strengthen information sharing between police forces including forensics and crisis response. President Asif Ali Zardari said Pakistan desires to have durable peace in South Asia and best of relations with India.
He said immediately after the Mumbai attacks, Pakistan offered every cooperation to India in the investigations including establishment of a joint commission. Zardari said terrorism and extremism are common problems which require cooperative efforts and these problems are not specific to any country but are global.
He said Pakistan is also engaged closely with Afghanistan on issues of security and stability and partnership in development. To a question, the president said Pakistan is committed to fighting terrorism, as the country itself is a victim of the menace.
He said Pakistan is also ready to cooperate with India to tackle the problem and pointed out that at the time of Mumbai attacks Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi had signed two agreements with India on cooperation against terrorism.
The president said Pakistan attaches significance to its relations with the European Union and needs greater market access for its goods.Earlier, the visiting UK leader met Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani at the Prime Minister House and reviewed the overall bilateral relations and regional situation.
Prime Minister Gilani apprised his British counterpart of the initiatives taken by Pakistan to defuse the situation and assist the Indian government in investigation of the Mumbai tragedy.While briefing the British prime minister on the measures taken by the Government of Pakistan to fulfil its international obligations under UNSC resolution, he reiterated that Pakistan will not allow anyone to use its soil for activities detrimental to any other country.
Gilani expressed his country’s determination to continue playing the pivotal role in combating terrorism and urged the British prime minister to help build the capability of Pakistan’s law enforcement agencies enabling them to confront this challenge effectively.
He said Drone attacks on Pakistan’s territory by the US forces in fact run counter to Pakistan’s efforts to isolate the extremists from the local population as every attack helped strengthen the cause of terrorists.
He emphasized that a peaceful and stable Afghanistan is in the interest of Pakistan. While recalling his series of meetings with the Afghan president at various fora, the prime minister said his government, right from its inception, had taken numerous initiatives to promote bilateral ties between the two countries and is committed to assist Afghanistan in restoration of peace there.
The British prime minister while acknowledging Pakistan’s contribution promised his government’s complete support to adequately equip its law enforcement agencies. He also agreed with the prime minister’s views on intrinsic linkage of Pakistan’s role in facing the challenge of terrorism on its economy and assured him of Britain’s continued support to overcome its economic difficulties. Prime Minister Gordon Brown also reaffirmed British commitment to promote the democratic institutions in Pakistan and commended the Government of Pakistan’s efforts in this regard.
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Three killed as Sh Rashid escapes attempt on life
By Shakeel Anjum
RAWALPINDI: Awami Muslim League (AML) Chief and a candidate for NA-55 (Rawalpindi) by-election Sheikh Rashid Ahmad was wounded, while three people — a guard and two party workers — were killed when four gunmen more |
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12 soldiers killed in South Waziristan
ISLAMABAD: Twelve soldiers embraced martyrdom while two others were injured in a clash with militants during the ongoing operation Rah-e-Nijat in South Waziristan Agency (SWA), the ISPR said on Monday.
S more |
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Plan to attack five-star hotel foiled
By our correspondent
LAHORE: The CIA police here on Monday claimed to have foiled an attack on Americans staying at a five-star hotel and arrested six terrorists, including a suicide bomber.
Addressing a press conference, SS more |
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Govt taking court for a ride
By Ansar Abbasi
ISLAMABAD: She fought her case in the media. She won her battle in the judicial forum too. But still the government is bent on making an example out of her for refusing to follow the illegal dictates of her min more |
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Pakistan against arms race: Gilani
By Azeem Samar
KARACHI: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday said Pakistan does not want to be engaged in an arms race with any country.
Speaking as chief guest at the induction ceremony of second Chinese-m more |
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Punjab-Sindh water row Centre’s intervention sought
By our correspondent
ISLAMABAD: Tension between Punjab and Sindh over opening of the Chashma-Jhelum and Taunsa-Punjnad link canals has touched a new high as the former has sought the Centre’s intervention.
The Punjab has sai more |
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French, Dutch fight over giving LNG to Pakistan
By Khalid Mustafa
ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin and his team is all set to thwart the attempt of an unscrupulous combine of oil industry heavyweights and some functionaries of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Re more |
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Nine killed as no let-up in rains
By Nisar Mahmood
PESHAWAR: Nine people were killed and scores of others injured as heavy rains and snowfall lashed various parts of the country for the fourth consecutive day on Monday.
Reports from the Shangla district more |
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Malik orders NUML closure as protest enters 5ht day
ISLAMABAD: The protest of the students of the National University of Modern Languages (NUML) against thrashing of Professor Malik Tahir by Registrar Brigadier (R) Obaidullah Ranjha entered its fifth consecutive more |
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Malik insists no Blackwater in Pakistan
By Muhammad Anis
ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rehman Malik while responding to an accusation from a PML-N parliamentarian told the National Assembly that Blackwater was not providing security to the president and the prime mini more |
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FBR gets list of properties rented out to foreigners
By Hanif Khalid
ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has received list of properties from Foreign Office, which were in use of foreigners in Islamabad, Karachi, Peshawar and Lahore, but these were not shown in annual tax more |
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Repealing of 17th Amendment
By our correspondent
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has begun efforts to create consensus on repealing the 17th Amendment before presidential address to the joint sitting of the parliament.
The prime minis more |
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Three suspects held in Mohmand
By our correspondent
GHALLANAI: The security forces arrested three suspected persons during search operation in Safi subdivision of Mohmand Agency, official sources said Monday. The sources said the security forces carried out sear more |
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No presence of Blackwater, DynCorp in Pakistan, NA body told
ISLAMABAD: Secretary Interior Qamar Zaman again negated on Monday the presence of Blackwater, DynCorp or any other foreign security agency in the country. “Neither the Blackwater and the DynCorp nor any other s more |
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Govt urged to take up water issue with India
By Asim Yasin
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Q, Parliamentary leader in the National Assembly, Makhdoom Faisal Saleh Hayat while urging the government to take up the issue of ‘water terrorism’ with New Delhi, has question more |
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Avalanche kills 17 Indian soldiers in held Kashmir
HELD SRINAGAR: Seventeen Indian soldiers were killed on Monday in an avalanche that slammed into a group of 70 combat troops at a high-altitude warfare training camp in Kashmir, the army said on Monday.
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Taliban defiant as Afghans flee ahead of assault
KANDAHAR: The Nato commanders urged the Taliban to surrender as troops dug in on Monday for a major assault on their key stronghold in southern Afghanistan, sending thousands of residents fleeing.
The Ta more |
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Plea to freeze foreign accounts
By our correspondent
LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday ordered the federal government to submit a reply within four weeks on a petition seeking freezing of accounts in foreign banks and recovery of illegal assets accumu more |
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Attack on Sh Rashid
RAWALPINDI: The PML-N candidate for by-polls from NA-55, Malik Shakil Awan, has announced suspension of electioneering for a day to mourn the death of those killed in the attack on the office of his rival, Shei more |
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Indian forces to halt Kashmir rally outside UN office
HELD SRINAGAR: The held Kashmir authorities deployed thousands of police and troops on Monday to prevent a protest outside the UN office here over the recent killing of two teenage boys by Indian security force more |
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briefs...
20 die in Afghan floods, avalanches
KANDAHAR: Twenty people have died in floods and avalanches triggered by some of the heaviest rain and snow in Afghanistan for 50 years, an official said on Monday. At more |
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ISSN 1563-9479 
