Pak-UK agree to prepare a comprehensive plan of action to intensify cooperation in various fields

Pakistan and United Kingdom have agreed to prepare a comprehensive plan of action to intensify cooperation in trade and business; defence and development, education and health, defence and security; and cultural cooperation.

This was stated by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar and British Foreign Secretary William Hague at a joint news conference following their talks in Islamabad here on Thursday.

The Minister of State said these five areas have been identified as constituents of the enhanced strategic dialogue between the two countries and Pakistan would share working paper with UK in moving forward on each one of them.

She said the two sides have agreed to enlarge the role of British-Pakistan Foundation formally launched in October last year.

She thanked UK for announcing an assistance, worth of 650 million Sterling for education sector of Pakistan which would help out of school children back into schools in Sindh, Punjab and in far flung areas.

Hina Rabbani Khar appreciated comments made by British Prime Minister that enemy of Pakistan is enemy of Britain and added that this is very significant in view of the immense sufferings of the people, loss of life and economic price that Pakistan had to pay because of its role in the war against terror.

She said the two sides have also agreed to take concrete steps through working papers towards increasing our bilateral trade to 2.5 billion Sterling by 2015.  A UK trade delegation would visit Pakistan later this year or early next year.

The Minister of State appreciated the role played by Britain in seeking trade package for Pakistan from European Union. She said the British Foreign Secretary has assured that his country would continue to extend support to Pakistan for greater market access within the context of overall package from EU and GSP Plus as well. She said Pakistan wants to start negotiations for free trade agreement with EU.

Britain would also support Pakistan’s efforts for institutionalization of Pakistan-EU summit mechanism.

Hina Rabbani Khar told British Foreign Secretary that Pakistan is fully behind an Afghan-led peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan.

Mr. William Hague said Pakistan and UK have unbreakable partnership and shared determination to defeat terrorism and violent extremist.

He said it is in the interest of both the country to sustain the strategic relationship based on mutual respect and mutual trust and benefit.

He said UK is Pakistan’s greatest advocate for market access to EU which could dramatically increase Pakistan’s exports.

The British Foreign Secretary said as frontline state, Pakistan has rendered more sacrifices in fighting terrorism than any other country of the planet. UK stands with Pakistan to combat the menace.

He said Britain is committed to increase our mutual cooperation through national security dialogue.

He said Pakistan has very important and responsible role to play in promoting Afghan-led reconciliation and peace efforts in Afghanistan.

William Hague said UK’s four year education programme for Pakistan would help get more than four million children into school, help recruit and train ninety thousand teachers besides provision of six million sets of text books.

On behalf of British Prime Minister, he extended an invitation to Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani to visit London in April next for annual summit level review of bilateral relations. He also extended invitation to the Minister of State to visit UK.
 

Replying to a question the British Foreign Secretary said contacts with Taliban are preliminary in nature.  He, however, asserted that political process was necessary for sustainable peace and stability in Afghanistan.
 

To another question he said they would continue to remain engaged with Afghanistan even beyond 2014 when the withdrawal is proposed to be completed.
 

Asked about prospects of success of Afghan-led peace process, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs said if we are able to get more clarity in our approach and work together then certainly peace would become a reality. SANA