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Miliband support for Musharraf | |
(about 11 hours later) | |
New UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband has called for co-operation in defeating terrorism, after talks with Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf. | |
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. |
US pressure | |
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. | |
"Britain has a strong interest in the stability of Pakistan, in defeating extremism and in the development of tribal areas," he 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. | |
Resurgent Taleban | Resurgent Taleban |
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 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. |
And on Thursday another soldier, from the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, was killed in southern Afghanistan. His next of kin have been informed. | |
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