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Miliband in talks with Musharraf Miliband support for Musharraf
(about 11 hours later)
New UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband has arrived in Pakistan for talks with President Pervez Musharraf. New UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband has called for co-operation in defeating terrorism, after talks with Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf.
The trip, together with his visit to Afghanistan on Wednesday, is being seen as a sign that the region has become a top priority for the Brown government. Mr Miliband said he had chosen to visit Pakistan on his first foreign mission because of the shared interest in the area's future stability.
It was important to win over hearts and minds so people did not misunderstand UK and US military action, he said.
His trip has also involved talks with Afghanistan leaders.
In Afghanistan, Mr Miliband said that a Taleban revival, providing cover for al-Qaeda, was a threat to UK security.In Afghanistan, Mr Miliband said that a Taleban revival, providing cover for al-Qaeda, was a threat to UK security.
He will voice concerns later on the number of terrorists arrested in the UK who have received training in Pakistan. US pressure
Mr Miliband has said it was his personal choice to make Afghanistan and Pakistan the destinations of his first major official visit. Speaking after his talks in Pakistan on Thursday, Mr Miliband said defeating terrorism was not a matter for unilateral action, but for co-operation between nations.
BBC correspondent Bridget Kendall said this was a signal that both countries now rank near the top of Britain's foreign policy priorities. "Britain has a strong interest in the stability of Pakistan, in defeating extremism and in the development of tribal areas," he said.
Talks in Islamabad would be just as important as those in Afghanistan, she said. "Our approach... is that the right way forward is one based on partnership between different countries.
"The abiding theme is that economic, social, and political development has to go together."
His words were seen as support for Pakistan, which in recent days has come under pressure from the US administration to do more to track down al-Qaeda leaders in the tribal areas bordering Afghanistan.
And it was a rebuff to one US official who had suggested that American troops would be prepared to mount a unilateral operation inside Pakistan if they had firm evidence of the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden.
Pakistan foreign minister Khurshid Kasuri urged foreign allies to support Pakistan's efforts to suppress the cross-border movement of al-Qaeda and pro-Taleban forces.
Landmine request
"We've offered to mine and fence the border, but have not been helped to do this," he said.
"How can we maintain control of such a difficult mountainous border without such assistance?"
Britain, along with other members of the international community, have rejected any proposals that involve laying landmines in the region.
Pakistan's western tribal areas have provided a haven for al-Qaeda and the Taleban.Pakistan's western tribal areas have provided a haven for al-Qaeda and the Taleban.
More than half of Britain's counter-terrorist operations have had links back to Pakistan, our correspondent added. More than half of Britain's counter-terrorist operations have had links back to Pakistan.
Resurgent TalebanResurgent Taleban
On Wednesday, Mr Miliband met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai to discuss co-operation between the two countries in the fight against terrorism, as well as the rebuilding of the country. On Wednesday, Mr Miliband met Afghan President Hamid Karzai to discuss co-operation between the two countries in the fight against terrorism, as well as the rebuilding of the country.
We need to be engaged in Afghanistan because we know from bitter experience that a lack of governance in that part of the world... can result in a fertile breeding ground for the terrorists David Miliband We need to be engaged in Afghanistan because we know from bitter experience that a lack of governance in that part of the world... can result in a fertile breeding ground for the terrorists David MilibandForeign Secretary
He said the danger posed by Taleban resurgence was the main reason for the UK to remain in the country on a long-term basis.He said the danger posed by Taleban resurgence was the main reason for the UK to remain in the country on a long-term basis.
The UK has 7,100 troops in Afghanistan, mainly concentrated in the southern province of Helmand.The UK has 7,100 troops in Afghanistan, mainly concentrated in the southern province of Helmand.
Writing in Thursday's Daily Mirror, Mr Miliband said success in Afghanistan would be "a blow against extremism everywhere".Writing in Thursday's Daily Mirror, Mr Miliband said success in Afghanistan would be "a blow against extremism everywhere".
"We need to be engaged in Afghanistan because we know from bitter experience that a lack of governance in that part of the world - more there than anywhere - can result in a fertile breeding ground for the terrorists," he added."We need to be engaged in Afghanistan because we know from bitter experience that a lack of governance in that part of the world - more there than anywhere - can result in a fertile breeding ground for the terrorists," he added.
A British soldier was killed in Helmand Province on Wednesday, hours before the foreign secretary flew in to assess the situation.A British soldier was killed in Helmand Province on Wednesday, hours before the foreign secretary flew in to assess the situation.
The deceased, who has not been named, was serving with the 1st Battalion of The Royal Anglian Regiment. His next of kin have been informed.The deceased, who has not been named, was serving with the 1st Battalion of The Royal Anglian Regiment. His next of kin have been informed.
Two others were injured in the explosion. And on Thursday another soldier, from the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, was killed in southern Afghanistan. His next of kin have been informed.
The soldiers had been returning to base after a routine patrol when an explosion struck their vehicle.