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| UK and Pakistan agree terror plan | UK and Pakistan agree terror plan |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The UK and Pakistan have agreed to strengthen their ties to fight terrorism following talks between the countries' two leaders in Lahore. | |
| The UK will also double development aid to Pakistan to pay for the reform of the Islamic schools - accused by some of encouraging extremism. | The UK will also double development aid to Pakistan to pay for the reform of the Islamic schools - accused by some of encouraging extremism. |
| At a news conference Tony Blair praised what he called President Pervez Musharraf's "enlightened moderation". | At a news conference Tony Blair praised what he called President Pervez Musharraf's "enlightened moderation". |
| Both leaders said that they found consensus on all major issues. | Both leaders said that they found consensus on all major issues. |
| 'Highest point' | 'Highest point' |
| Describing the weekend's talks as "immensely constructive", Mr Blair said: "I would like to pay tribute to his courage and his leadership in taking Pakistan on this journey of change and modernisation, but also in so doing, symbolising I think the future for Muslim countries the world over." | Describing the weekend's talks as "immensely constructive", Mr Blair said: "I would like to pay tribute to his courage and his leadership in taking Pakistan on this journey of change and modernisation, but also in so doing, symbolising I think the future for Muslim countries the world over." |
| He said relations with Pakistan were at "their highest point for many years". | He said relations with Pakistan were at "their highest point for many years". |
| "I think that we are seeing a strengthening of the relationship at every level, which I welcome enormously," he added. | "I think that we are seeing a strengthening of the relationship at every level, which I welcome enormously," he added. |
| The talks had been expected to focus on working together on counter-terrorism and security in Afghanistan, where UK troops face Taleban-led militants. | The talks had been expected to focus on working together on counter-terrorism and security in Afghanistan, where UK troops face Taleban-led militants. |
| Mr Blair pledged a commitment to battling the Taleban, saying: "This terrorism that we are facing, of which one manifestation is what has happened in Afghanistan, has been a long time going and will take a long time to defeat." | |
| Mr Blair pledged to double UK development aid for Pakistan to £480m ($960m), UK officials said. | Mr Blair pledged to double UK development aid for Pakistan to £480m ($960m), UK officials said. |
| His visit comes shortly after Pakistani authorities freed a British man who had spent 18 years on death row. | His visit comes shortly after Pakistani authorities freed a British man who had spent 18 years on death row. |
| The UK development aid will be used over three years to support Gen Musharraf's educational reforms, which aim to counter the influence of Islamic religious schools, or madrassas, seen as a breeding ground for militancy. | The UK development aid will be used over three years to support Gen Musharraf's educational reforms, which aim to counter the influence of Islamic religious schools, or madrassas, seen as a breeding ground for militancy. |
| "It is not just designed to counter radicalism but also to train people in the skills which allow the Pakistan economy to develop," Mr Blair's spokesman told reporters. | "It is not just designed to counter radicalism but also to train people in the skills which allow the Pakistan economy to develop," Mr Blair's spokesman told reporters. |
| There will also be a counter-terrorism package of technical assistance, worth some £8m ($15m), UK officials said. | There will also be a counter-terrorism package of technical assistance, worth some £8m ($15m), UK officials said. |
| Pakistan's co-operation in cracking down on cross-border infiltration by Taleban militants is seen as critically important for the success of US and Nato military operations in Afghanistan. | Pakistan's co-operation in cracking down on cross-border infiltration by Taleban militants is seen as critically important for the success of US and Nato military operations in Afghanistan. |
| On his third visit to Pakistan, Mr Blair is also expected to meet Islamic chiefs to discuss inter-faith harmony. | On his third visit to Pakistan, Mr Blair is also expected to meet Islamic chiefs to discuss inter-faith harmony. |
| 'Important ally' | 'Important ally' |
| The BBC's Jonathan Marcus says Pakistan is the contradiction that stands at the heart of the so-called "war on terror". | The BBC's Jonathan Marcus says Pakistan is the contradiction that stands at the heart of the so-called "war on terror". |
| Mr Blair has previously publicly voiced support for Gen Musharraf | Mr Blair has previously publicly voiced support for Gen Musharraf |
| In the wake of the 9/11 attacks in New York and Washington, Gen Musharraf opted to stand alongside the US. | In the wake of the 9/11 attacks in New York and Washington, Gen Musharraf opted to stand alongside the US. |
| Pakistan became, because of its location and local knowledge, one of America's most important allies in the war on terror. | Pakistan became, because of its location and local knowledge, one of America's most important allies in the war on terror. |
| Mr Blair has publicly voiced support for Gen Musharraf. However, British commanders and Western experts say Pakistan needs to do more to hamper the Taleban's revival. | Mr Blair has publicly voiced support for Gen Musharraf. However, British commanders and Western experts say Pakistan needs to do more to hamper the Taleban's revival. |
| There is a sense that the country is fast approaching a tipping point. Nato forces are stretched and their effectiveness is being eroded by restrictions placed by some member governments on their use, our correspondent says. | There is a sense that the country is fast approaching a tipping point. Nato forces are stretched and their effectiveness is being eroded by restrictions placed by some member governments on their use, our correspondent says. |
| Military measures alone cannot resolve Afghanistan's problems. Diplomacy too has an important part to play and here Pakistan's role is essential, he adds. | Military measures alone cannot resolve Afghanistan's problems. Diplomacy too has an important part to play and here Pakistan's role is essential, he adds. |
| Human rights record | Human rights record |
| British officials have also praised Pakistan for providing intelligence that helped to thwart terrorist attacks in the UK. | British officials have also praised Pakistan for providing intelligence that helped to thwart terrorist attacks in the UK. |
| Mr Blair personally asked for clemency for Mirza Tahir HussainBut the US-based group Human Rights Watch said Mr Blair must urge his hosts to end torture and "enforced disappearances" of terror suspects. | Mr Blair personally asked for clemency for Mirza Tahir HussainBut the US-based group Human Rights Watch said Mr Blair must urge his hosts to end torture and "enforced disappearances" of terror suspects. |
| The one-day talks follow the release of Briton, Mirza Tahir Hussain. Mr Blair had personally asked the president to show clemency to the death row prisoner. | The one-day talks follow the release of Briton, Mirza Tahir Hussain. Mr Blair had personally asked the president to show clemency to the death row prisoner. |
| On Wednesday, Gen Musharraf ordered Mr Hussain's death sentence to be commuted to life in jail, and on Thursday he was released from a high-security prison in Rawalpindi, near the capital, Islamabad. Mr Hussain is now back in Britain. | On Wednesday, Gen Musharraf ordered Mr Hussain's death sentence to be commuted to life in jail, and on Thursday he was released from a high-security prison in Rawalpindi, near the capital, Islamabad. Mr Hussain is now back in Britain. |
| Mr Blair's visit also follows Gen Musharraf's trip to Britain in September, and a tour of Pakistan last month by Prince Charles and his wife Camilla. | Mr Blair's visit also follows Gen Musharraf's trip to Britain in September, and a tour of Pakistan last month by Prince Charles and his wife Camilla. |