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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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‘Al-Qaeda, Taliban leaders not in Pakistan’
ISLAMABAD: Strongly reacting to some of the reports of the presence of al-Qaeda and Taliban leadership in Pakistan by the US newspapers and some intelligence agencies, President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday said more |
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Mulla Omar in Karachi, claims WT
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Will PM intervene or will robber barons kill CCP?
By Mehtab Haider
ISLAMABAD: The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has warned that it will cease to exist and its actions will become invalid in case the government fails to re-promulgate the Competition Ordinance on or b more |
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Eight militants die in US drone attack
By our correspondent
MIRAMSHAH: Eight militants were killed and two others injured when a US drone hit a house in the Michikhel area in North Waziristan on Friday, the second such attack in less than 24 hours.
Tribal sources sai more |
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19 militants killed in SWA, Khyber, Bajaur clashes
By our correspondents
WANA/BARA/KHAR: Nineteen militants were killed in clashes with security forces in South Waziristan, Khyber and Bajaur tribal regions on Friday.
Tribal and officials sources said five militants were kille more |
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Pakistan has nothing to fear from India: Singh
WASHINGTON: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said India is ready to resolve all outstanding issues with the country on the condition that it will not allow its territory to be used against its neighbour more |
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Qureshi wants result-oriented dialogue with India
MULTAN: Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmud Qureshi said on Friday Pakistan wanted meaningful and result-oriented bilateral negotiations with India.
Addressing a press conference at the airport here, h more |
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Only 15 pc believe Pakistan is going right
By Gibran Peshimam
KARACHI: Pakistan’s youths are losing confidence in the future and a mere 15 per cent believe that the country is heading in the right direction, while 72 per cent feel economically worse off than a year ago. O more |
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Mustafa Jatoi passes away
ISLAMABAD: Former caretaker prime minister Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi breathed his last at the St Marry Hospital in London on Friday after a protracted illness. He was 78.
He leaves behind six sons and three d more |
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Slaughter of animals, NRO beneficiaries begins on Eid
By Muhammad Ahmad Noorani
ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) will soon announce its strategy to deal with the cases which are going to reopen on Nov 28, a NAB spokesman told The News on Friday.
“The NAB chairman more |
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WFP, Rescue 15 attacks’ mastermind arrested
By Shakeel Anjum
ISLAMABAD: The Capital Police on Friday arrested the mastermind behind the attacks on the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and the Rescue 15 offices in Islamabad.
The terrorist, identified as Jamshed Ahmad more |
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Mushahid asks Karzai not to allow use of Afghan land against Pakistan
By our correspondent
ISLAMABAD: Secretary General Pakistan Muslim League-Q Mushahid Hussain Sayed on Friday asked President Hamid Karzai not to allow the use of Afghan land against Pakistan under Indian designs.
“Pakistan wa more |
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No Indo-Pak FMs meeting: Nirupama
NEW DELHI: India on Friday said no meeting had been scheduled between foreign ministers of Pakistan and India in Port of Spain later this month on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting ( more |
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US to tighten control of Afghan contracts: Gates
HALIFAX: US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said on Friday that the United States must tighten control of Afghan development contracts as a first step towards stemming rampant corruption.
“The reality is more |
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China has stake in Kashmir: Mirwaiz
News Desk
HELD SRINAGAR: As he plans to visit China, Hurriyat Conference leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Friday kicked up a controversy by saying that Beijing has a “direct link” with the Kashmir issue, drawing strong obje more |
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Clinton favours Indo-Pak dialogue on Kashmir
WASHINGTON: The United States is encouraging Pakistan and India to resume their dialogue to address Kashmir and other outstanding disputes but any solution must come from the two countries, Secretary of State H more |
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Competition Commission forces PIA to fly fair
By our correspondent
ISLAMABAD: Silent prayers of many Hajis have apparently been answered as the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has ordered PIA to refund within 60 days the excessive fares charged from the passengers, wh more |
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Attack on policemen in Peshawar
By Javed Aziz Khan
PESHAWAR: The death toll in the bomb attack on police party in Yakatoot rose to three after a sub-inspector and another cop succumbed to injuries at the Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) on Friday as the city mourned more |
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‘Musharraf funnelling money to improve image’
ISLAMABAD: Former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf has reportedly funnelled a large amount of money to his former aides in the country in order to improve his image, as he is planning a return to the c more |
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Sen Lugar’s wife arrested, charged with drinking, hit-and-run
News Desk
WASHINGTON: The wife of Republican Senator Richard G Lugar was arrested in the suburb of McLean on Wednesday night after crashing into a parked car, and she was charged with drunk driving and hit-and-run, the F more |
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briefs...
Bombers kill 23 in Afghanistan
HERAT: Bomb attacks on Friday killed 23 people in Afghanistan, a deadly start to President Hamid Karzai’s second term that underscored spiralling insecurity nine years into more |
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ISSN 1563-9479 
