Visit of Prime Minister
Gordon Brown to Pakistan
President Zardari for more international collaboration against
terrorism
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali
Zardari on 14 December said terrorism was a regional problem requiring greater
international cooperation to counter the menace. Addressing a joint press
conference along with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, the President said Pakistan has already offered joint investigation
to India
regarding the Mumbai attacks.
“We ourselves are victims of terrorism and feel the
pain of the people of Mumbai,” President Zardari said.
He said the joint investigation was an opportunity
for Pakistan to cooperate
with India
and build up their ties. The President said India
was yet to complete its investigation and provide evidence to Pakistan so
that it may conduct its own inquiry.
“We are committed to fight against terrorism in all
its forms and manifestations,” President Zardari said. He assured that if there
was any evidence that any culprits of the Mumbai attack were in Pakistan,
action would be taken against them.
Zardari recalled that Pakistan’s
Foreign Minister had already inked an agreement with India for cooperation against
terrorism.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown offered his country’s
assistance to Pakistan
in helping it combat terrorism. He 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 forensics capabilities.
President Zardari said Pakistan
was conducting its own investigation into the Mumbai attacks and reiterated his
resolve that Pakistan
will not let its territory be used for any such act against any country.
Prime Minister Brown also proposed a new Pakistan-United Kingdom
pact for cooperation against terrorism, adding that the two countries will
continue to cooperate in a comprehensive counter-terrorism programme. He said Pakistan itself
was a victim of terrorism and pointed that in the past one year there were
fifty suicide attacks inside the country. Brown said his country had deep
interest in helping Pakistan
against terrorism.
President Asif Ali Zardari in his opening remarks said the friendship between Pakistan and United Kingdom was deep rooted and
based on shared values. He also welcomed UK’s
contribution to promoting democracy and rule of law in Pakistan. He said Pakistan
also desires good relations with Afghanistan and was closely
associated with it on issues of security and stability besides having a
partnership on development.
President Zardari said Pakistan
also attaches greater importance to its ties with the Commonwealth and the
European Union and expressed its desire for greater market access to its goods
to the EU.
Prime Minister Gilani and
Gordon Brown review bilateral relations, regional situation
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed
Yousuf Raza Gilani said that only the enemies of peace process between India and Pakistan and terrorist elements
have benefited with the escalation of tensions in the region in the aftermath
of Mumbai terrorist attacks. The Prime Minister expressed these views in a
meeting with the visiting British Prime Minister Gordon Brown at Prime Minister
House.
Both leaders reviewed the overall bilateral
relations and the regional situation. The Prime Minister apprised his British
counterpart of the initiatives taken by his government to defuse the situation
and assist the Indian government in investigation of the Mumbai tragedy.
The Prime Minister 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.
The Prime Minister 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 for restoration of
peace there.
The British Prime Minister while acknowledging Pakistan’s contributions promised
his government’s complete support for adequately equipping its law enforcement
agencies. Prime Minister Brown also reaffirmed British commitment to promote
democratic institutions in Pakistan
and commended government of Pakistan’s
efforts in this regard.
Courtesy:
APP
14 December
2008
