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LONDON: Pakistan and the Great Britain will have a joint strategy to deal with militancy in Afghanistan and the region and the two countries will jointly fight terrorism and enhance bilateral partnership for the cause.
“We have agreed to intensify the progress in the war against terror. This is your fight, as well as it is UK’s fight,” said British Prime Minister Gordon Brown while addressing a joint press conference with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani at the 10-Downing Street on Thursday.

Gordon Brown said that the Pak Army was rendering great sacrifices in the war on terror and indicated that the UK was also sending its troops to Afghanistan in line with the US decision to send forces, yet he did not indicate the number of troops that Britain was sending to Afghanistan.

“The UK will send more troops to Afghanistan for peace in the region but it is our desire that Afghan security forces should have a major role in security issues,” he added.

Commenting on the US decision to send more troops to Afghanistan, Prime Minister Gilani observed that Pakistan needed more clarity on President Obama’s new policy on Afghanistan. “We are carefully examining this issue and will take a decision after reviewing the whole statement of President Obama.”

He said the US leadership took Pakistan leaders on board on the new Afghan policy, adding that Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi will soon meet his British counterpart in this regard. “Admiral Mike Mullen and General Stanley McCrystal are coming to Pakistan soon to hold talks with the military,” he added.

Earlier, the talks between the two prime ministers lasted for an hour.

The two sides also agreed the two countries’ foreign ministers will meet biannually to review the progress and provide direction to the joint UK-Pakistan work programme.

Gilani urged the UK to play its part for an enhanced relationship between the European Union and Pakistan, including a significantly enhanced trade relationship through greater market access for Pakistan in the EU markets. He called for upgrading relations between the two countries in political, economic, investment, education, science and technology and cultural fields. He said there was a wide scope for cooperation in various fields, including trade, defence, health and education.

The British prime minister confirmed UK’s offer of a further £50 million to back Pakistan’s plans for long-term stabilisation in the NWFP and Fata. He also pledged to continue support for Pakistan’s economic development and announced £120 million UK’s development programme in Pakistan with the aim of alleviating poverty, improving education and providing better healthcare.

The British PM said that his government was working for strengthening ties between Pakistan and other EU countries, adding that the international community praised Pakistan’s efforts to eradicate militancy from its soil.

Asked about reports of the presence of top al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan, Gilani categorically denied it. “I don’t think that he is in Pakistan. If anyone has any credible intelligence, it must be shared with Pakistan. We will do everything on actionable intelligence information,” he added.

When told it was said that Pakistan was not doing enough in the war against terror, Prime Minister Gilani rejected this notion, saying, “I do not agree with this information. Pakistan Army had launched an operation against militants and terrorists and is flushing out Uzbeks, Chechens, Arabs and the Taliban.”

He said the Taliban and al-Qaeda were the same and working under the same system, and Pakistan was fighting against all the terrorists who were part of these networks.

When asked whether the UK had shared any actionable information about the presence of the top al-Qaeda leadership in Pakistan, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown evaded the question saying that the intelligence system will be strengthened with Pakistan.

To a question, the British prime minister promised that his government would review the system of issuance of visas for Pakistanis as he had thoroughly discussed the matter with Prime Minister Gilani.

Agencies add: Prime Minister Gilani rejected the notion that two-thirds of terrorist attacks against Britain stemmed from Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Gilani on Thursday stressed the need for a mechanism to make the strategic dialogue process with the United Kingdom more meaningful and result-oriented. He was talking to British Foreign Secretary David Miliband, who called on him here at his hotel.

He said a Pakistan-UK Education Task Force will visit Pakistan soon to help improve the standard of education in Pakistan. The British foreign secretary reassured his government’s continued support for the FODP process.