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| Brown hails Dir operation; Gilani says |
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Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Swat deal hinges on peace; Zardari pulls out of joint press conference in protest
By Asim Yasin
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Britain have expressed their firm resolve to jointly fight terrorism and militancy to bring peace to the region as well to the world at large.
“Today we have agreed a stronger and vital relationship between the two countries to combat terrorism and militancy. The two nations are victims of terrorism and both will fight the menace jointly,” Brown said while addressing a joint press conference with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani at the Prime Minister’s House here on Monday.
Earlier, Brown, who arrived from Afghanistan on a day visit, held a meeting with Gilani. “I have assured Prime Minister Brown of Pakistan’s strong commitment to eliminating militancy, terrorism and extremism by pursuing a comprehensive strategy that encompasses dialogue, development and deterrence. To achieve this objective, all elements of state power will be utilised,” said Gilani in his opening statement.
During their meeting, Gilani raised the ìunfortunate incidentî of the Pakistani students arrested in Britain and asked the British prime minister to let these students stay in the United Kingdom and complete their education. “I have asked Prime Minister Brown not to discontinue the studies of those students”.
“Yes, I have discussed with Prime Minister Brown the issue of the students. There are one million Pakistanis settled in the UK and there are thousands of students, including my two sons and a daughter. We have also discussed whatever information (about the students) has been shared with us and we will examine it,” Gilani said in response to a question why the British authorities intend to deport the Pakistani students who were arrested and later released after no evidence was found against them.
The British prime minister said that Pakistani students are welcome in the UK but the law will take its course. “The investigations are under way in connection with the detained students,” he added.
Gordon Brown praised the action of the Pakistan’s armed forces in Dir to flush out the Taliban from there. “The Pakistan Army and the government are already taking strong actions against the Taliban leadership ... Both the countries have urgent threat from these terror elements who want to destabilise the Pakistani society,” Brown said to a query.
The British PM said that his country would continue to help Pakistan in all sectors and provide counterterrorism assistance. He said Britain is providing 10 million pounds to train Pakistani intelligence agencies. “I reassure the people of Pakistan that Pakistan and the UK would jointly address the terror issue as it is a serious hazard. A new chapter would be opened from today in cooperation against terror elements,” he added.
The British prime minister also observed that the real challenges for Pakistan are in education and health sectors and the UK is running the second largest aid programme in the world in these two areas. He said their education programme would now be focused on the tribal areas.
He said the UK made a pledge of $500 million to Pakistan in Tokyo and half of it would be spent on education and health care in the borders areas. “We will provide text books and other facilities to the students of backward areas,” he added.
“Pakistan aid for war on terror will be increased and we will also support Pakistan for promotion of education in the tribal areas,” he added. Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said, “We are at a new defining stage joining hands in promoting regional peace and stability and to overcome the challenges posed by extremism and terrorism.”
He said the people of Pakistan and its institutions are resolved to combat terrorism and to frustrate the evil designs of those who seek to undermine Pakistan’s stability. He said Pakistan would continue to play its role to promote stability in Afghanistan. “We have made considerable achievement in improving relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan.”
He reiterated Pakistan’s desire of having good neighbourly relations with India and hoped that the Indian leadership will reciprocate the gesture. “Pakistan desires good neighbourly relations with India and hopes that the Indian leadership will respond positively to our suggestions to resume the process of dialogue and constructive engagement.”
Asked to comment on President Zardari’s statement in which he said that Osama Bin Laden might not be alive, he said he has not seen the statement. “I cannot comment whether Osama is alive or not.”
On the question of repatriation of 3.5 million refugees to Afghanistan, the prime minister said Pakistan has requested the international community for help in sending back these refuges to their country with honour.
Answering a question about the Swat peace deal, the prime minister defended it saying it was signed by the provincial government in accordance with the tradition and customs of the area as well as under the purview of the Constitution. “If peace is not restored then the government has the option to review it,” he added.
Brown also called on President Asif Ali Zardari at the Presidency on Monday where the president expressed concern over the arrest of Pakistani student in Britain and hoped that they will be provided a fair chance to defend the charges and allowed to complete their studies.
Both the leaders discussed matters pertaining to regional situation, militancy, Pakistan-UK bilateral relations and efforts to fight terrorism and extremism. The president, while appreciating continuous British support to Pakistan in its fight against militancy, hoped that strengthening of economic relations between the two countries would help Pakistan overcome its socio-economic problems.
The president emphasised on the international community’s support to Pakistan in fighting extremism. He said Pakistan possessed the will to fight militancy but there were areas where the capability needed to be strengthened and in this connection the international community could play a significant role.
The meeting was attended among others by Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Federal Minister for Interior Senator Rehman Malik, Minister for Privatisation Syed Naveed Qamar, Secretary General to the President Salman Faruqui and Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir. British High Commissioner to Pakistan Robert Brinkley and other senior officials of the UK Foreign Office were also present.
News Desk adds: Deepening divisions between Pakistan and Britain were exposed on Monday when President Asif Ali Zardari pulled out of a planned press conference with Gordon Brown, reports The Guardian.
Downing Street played down talk of a snub, insisting it was happy that Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani took part in the press conference instead. “It is entirely appropriate that he has a press conference with his counterpart,” a No 10 spokesman said. Zardari and Brown met for a private meeting after the press conference. But his absence from the press conference comes as the Pakistanis chide British officials for overly hasty conduct after the arrest of 11 Pakistani students a fortnight ago.
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‘Al-Qaeda, Taliban leaders not in Pakistan’
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Slaughter of animals, NRO beneficiaries begins on Eid
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China has stake in Kashmir: Mirwaiz
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Attack on policemen in Peshawar
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Sen Lugar’s wife arrested, charged with drinking, hit-and-run
News Desk
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briefs...
Bombers kill 23 in Afghanistan
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ISSN 1563-9479 
