Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari has said that Pakistan has rendered
great sacrifices than any other country in the fight against terrorism. It is
the need of the hour that counties included in the alliance against militancy
should acknowledge her efforts.
He was speaking to British Minister for Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs
Alistair Burt, who called on him at the Aiwan-e-Sadr here on Monday. On the
occasion Permanent under Secretary of the British Foreign and Commonwealth
Office, Simon Fraser and Dr. Peter Tibber, British Acting High commissioner in
Islamabad assisted their minister, while President Zardari was helped by
Interior Minister Rehman Malik, former minister Dr Babar Awan, MNA Farahnaz
Ispahani, Senator Sughra Imam, Presidential Spokesperson Farhatullah Babar and
Principal Secretary to President Salman Farooqui.
President said that Britain and Pakistan needed to work closely to further
enhance their partnership in diverse areas mainly in trade, investment and
education with a view to eliminate militancy and terrorism from Pakistan and
promote peace and security of the region and the world.
He emphasized on trade not aid to create job opportunities for the youth of
the country and said that 65 % of the country’s population comprised of youth
who looked for jobs and opportunities which had been destroyed by the war on
militancy. A jobless and idle youth is likely to join the ranks of extremists
unless he is provided with opportunities that gave him hope for the future, he
said. The President said that he was asking the world community for helping
Pakistan recover its shattered economy through opportunities for greater trade
and market access and not just aid.
Discussing Afghanistan situation, the President said that peace and stability
in Afghanistan was necessary for regional peace and emphasized on Afghan led
peace process in the country. Pakistan would support any initiative on
Afghanistan which ensure Afghan ownership of the process as well as territorial
integrity of the country and that its soil was not used against any other
country. He reiterated Pakistan stance for peaceful, stable and prosperous
Afghanistan.
He emphasized the need that the two sides should gear up and make concerted
efforts to achieve the objectives that we have set for ourselves in the
Declaration of Enhanced Strategic Dialogue. He said that the National Security
Dialogue would lead to creating a better understanding in bringing about clarity
on issues of global, regional peace and security. He said that Pakistan wants to
have an in-depth engagement with the UK on these issues, adding that such an
engagement must be based on sovereign equality, mutual trust and respect and
mutual interest.
The British Foreign Minister Alistair Burt appreciated the sacrifices made by
the government and people of Pakistan in fighting violent extremism and
militancy and assured to the democratic government the continued support and
cooperation of the British government in curbing militancy, revival of economy
and in fields of trade, investment and education.
The situation arising out of the Abbottabad operation was also discussed
during the meeting.
Latter the Presidential Spokesman Farhat Ullah Babar said that the President
while highlighting the significance of Pak- UK strategic dialogue said that the
dialogue covering important aspects of our relations would further strengthen
the cooperative partnership between the two countries. Online
