Nisar discusses wide-ranging issues with British counterpart

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Wednesday discussed Pak-UK bilateral relations, cooperation especially in the area of security and ongoing fight against terrorism in his meeting with British counterparty Theresa May.
During the meeting, the interior minister also discussed role of Pakistani community in the United Kingdom and ways and means to further strengthen the existing bilateral multi-faceted cooperation.
Discussing the Pak-UK bilateral relations, the interior minister observed that Pakistan greatly valued its friendly relations with the UK and was keen to further strengthen them in all possible areas.
The two leaders expressed satisfaction over the progress being made under the umbrella of Enhanced Strategic Dialogue. They agreed to further strengthening the existing cooperation, keeping in view shared concerns of the two countries in the area of security, especially in the ongoing fight against militancy, capacity building of security officials and mutual sharing of knowledge and expertise in counter-terrorism.
Discussing ongoing global fight against terrorism, the interior minister emphasised that the international community must take immediate steps to discourage those elements who propagate Islamophobia and ridicule Muslim traditions and sentiments. This, he said, was critical in efforts to overcome tendencies leading towards extremism. He stressed that neither Islam should be associated with terrorism nor the madrassahs be bracketed with preaching extremism. To effectively fight terrorism and militancy, Muslims should be considered as part of the solution and not part of the problem, he added. He emphasised that the world must now come out of this wrong notion and misperception of considering every man with a beard and every woman wearing hijab as potential terrorist.
Talking about Pakistan’s struggle against militancy and terrorism, the minister observed that in the war against terrorism, Pakistan’s efforts and sacrifices were neither duly acknowledged not fully understood. He said that a lot of propaganda in the West regarding human rights and capital punishment was incorrect and without any reason. He said that some people were only pursuing the agenda of defaming Pakistan.
Discussing efforts to fight militancy and terrorism, the minister said that the international community must undertake concerted efforts to check financial resources and must take action against financiers of terrorists.