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David Cameron hails 'unbreakable' link with Pakistan David Cameron hails 'unbreakable' link with Pakistan
(40 minutes later)
David Cameron has said UK-Pakistan links are "unbreakable" as he outlined initiatives on security and education on his first visit to the country.David Cameron has said UK-Pakistan links are "unbreakable" as he outlined initiatives on security and education on his first visit to the country.
The prime minister said the two countries had "no higher shared priority" than tackling terrorism both in Asia and elsewhere.The prime minister said the two countries had "no higher shared priority" than tackling terrorism both in Asia and elsewhere.
He was criticised last year for claiming that Pakistan "looked both ways" when it came to the issue.He was criticised last year for claiming that Pakistan "looked both ways" when it came to the issue.
The UK is to give £650m to Pakistan to fund new schools and teacher training.The UK is to give £650m to Pakistan to fund new schools and teacher training.
During a one-day visit to Islamabad, Mr Cameron said the two countries had made "real progress" on discussions focused on security and counter-terrorism.During a one-day visit to Islamabad, Mr Cameron said the two countries had made "real progress" on discussions focused on security and counter-terrorism.
'Challenging ideology''Challenging ideology'
The UK prime minister sparked anger in Pakistan on a trip to neighbouring India last year when he accused elements in Pakistan of promoting "the export of terror".The UK prime minister sparked anger in Pakistan on a trip to neighbouring India last year when he accused elements in Pakistan of promoting "the export of terror".
But, at a news conference with the Pakistani prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, Mr Cameron said he believed the Pakistani government was committed to fighting terrorism within its borders but said it was "not unhelpful" to urge its ally to do everything it could to tackle the threat.But, at a news conference with the Pakistani prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, Mr Cameron said he believed the Pakistani government was committed to fighting terrorism within its borders but said it was "not unhelpful" to urge its ally to do everything it could to tackle the threat.
"What you see in Pakistan today is a huge fight taking place by the government against terrorism and Pakistan has lost many, many people in that fight," he said."What you see in Pakistan today is a huge fight taking place by the government against terrorism and Pakistan has lost many, many people in that fight," he said.
After taking part in the first meeting of the UK-Pakistan National Security Dialogue - a civilian and military counter-terrorism forum - Mr Cameron said there would be increased co-operation at the "sharp end" to disrupt the work of terrorist groups.After taking part in the first meeting of the UK-Pakistan National Security Dialogue - a civilian and military counter-terrorism forum - Mr Cameron said there would be increased co-operation at the "sharp end" to disrupt the work of terrorist groups.
"We have no higher shared priority than tackling terrorism together," he added."We have no higher shared priority than tackling terrorism together," he added.
"That means challenging the extremist ideology that fuels it and ensuring effective operational co-operation between our police and intelligence agencies.""That means challenging the extremist ideology that fuels it and ensuring effective operational co-operation between our police and intelligence agencies."
The BBC's deputy political editor, James Landale said Mr Cameron was offering to share the UK's expertise in fighting roadside bombs at a new centre being established in Pakistan.The BBC's deputy political editor, James Landale said Mr Cameron was offering to share the UK's expertise in fighting roadside bombs at a new centre being established in Pakistan.
The site, near Peshawar in the north-west of the country, will provide training in detection and forensic investigation of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) as well as bomb disposal.The site, near Peshawar in the north-west of the country, will provide training in detection and forensic investigation of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) as well as bomb disposal.
British officials have played down fears of links between the Pakistani security services and the Taliban, James Landale added, insisting they were no longer providing support to the insurgency in Afghanistan and were committed to defeating them both in Afghanistan and Pakistan.British officials have played down fears of links between the Pakistani security services and the Taliban, James Landale added, insisting they were no longer providing support to the insurgency in Afghanistan and were committed to defeating them both in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Mr Cameron is being accompanied on his trip by the head of the armed forces, General Sir David Richards head of MI6, Sir John Sawers.Mr Cameron is being accompanied on his trip by the head of the armed forces, General Sir David Richards head of MI6, Sir John Sawers.
Schools support 'Good friend'
The prime minister, who has also visited a school and Pakistan's national mosque, pledged £650m of additional aid for Pakistan's schools system. The prime minister, who earlier visited a school and Pakistan's national mosque, also pledged £650m of additional aid for Pakistan's schools system.
He said the four-year package of support would help an extra four million children go to primary schools, train an extra 90,000 teachers and provide six million text books.He said the four-year package of support would help an extra four million children go to primary schools, train an extra 90,000 teachers and provide six million text books.
He defended the initiative, at a time when spending on public services including education is being cut in the UK, as an "investment for Britain".He defended the initiative, at a time when spending on public services including education is being cut in the UK, as an "investment for Britain".
"I would struggle to find a country that is more in Britain's interests to see progress and succeed than Pakistan," he added. "If Pakistan is a success, we will have a good friend to trade with and deal with in the future."I would struggle to find a country that is more in Britain's interests to see progress and succeed than Pakistan," he added. "If Pakistan is a success, we will have a good friend to trade with and deal with in the future.
"If we fail, we will have all the problems of migration and extremism that we don't want to see. It is in our interests that Pakistan succeeds.""If we fail, we will have all the problems of migration and extremism that we don't want to see. It is in our interests that Pakistan succeeds."
Mr Gilani said illiteracy was at the "root cause" of extremism, adding that Pakistan had paid a "heavy price" for its fight against terrorism - losing 30,000 people to domestic attacks.Mr Gilani said illiteracy was at the "root cause" of extremism, adding that Pakistan had paid a "heavy price" for its fight against terrorism - losing 30,000 people to domestic attacks.
More broadly, Mr Cameron said there was no question about the strength of UK-Pakistan links.
"Britain's friendship with Pakistan is unbreakable," he said. "From the grassroots links between our peoples, with [the] one million-strong Pakistan diaspora in the UK and 1.4 million journeys between Pakistan and the UK every single year."
The two leaders also agreed to seek to double bilateral trade to £2.5bn by 2025.The two leaders also agreed to seek to double bilateral trade to £2.5bn by 2025.