Creder
SENIOR MEMBER
- Joined
- Nov 15, 2009
- Messages
- 1,935
- Reaction score
- 0
Hague seeks to deepen Pakistan ties
(AFP) – 8 hours ago
ISLAMABAD — Foreign Secretary William Hague pledged on Wednesday to deepen strategic relations with Pakistan as he paid his first visit to Islamabad since the coaltion government took power.
"We are keen to deepen the UK-Pakistan strategic dialogue," the Conservative politician told a news conference, without elaborating.
The previous Labour government said that 75 percent of extremist plots affecting Britain -- which is home to an estimated one million people of Pakistani descent -- have links to Pakistan.
Hague paid tribute to the "enormous sacrifices" made by Pakistan in the widening fight against Islamist militants in the northwest region bordering Afghanistan, where British troops are locked in a war against the Taliban.
"Many thousands of soldiers in Pakistan have lost their lives in battling against violent extremism, and so I think that this must be understood all over the world," he said.
Hague met Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, and is scheduled to hold talks with President Asif Ali Zardari and speak to business leaders.
Britain has increased development aid to Pakistan to £665 million (992 million dollars) over four years, including £50 million to support stabilisation and reconstruction in conflict-hit areas, Hague said.
Britain is the second-largest investor in Pakistan after the United States with two-way trade now worth more than one billion pounds, up 30 percent over the past five years, according to Pakistani data.
Briefing reporters at the British High Commission's residence later Hague said Britain would like to work with Pakistan in efforts towards reconciliation in Afghanistan.
"We do want to work together on establishing security, peace safety and stability of Afghanistan. We recognise Pakistan's particular interest in that, and we look to work together for an Afghan-led process of reconciliation," he added.
He refused to comment when asked if the possible departure of the US commander of international forces in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, could be a setback for NATO efforts in the war-torn country.
"It's a matter for the US and NATO as a whole, so I don't want to speculate on that," Hague said.
President Barack Obama has summoned McChrystal to the White House in Washington, amid speculation that the four-star US general might be fired for disparaging remarks about senior US officials, as quoted in a magazine article.
On a multi-million-dollar gas pipeline project recently agreed between Iran and Pakistan, Hague said it was up to Pakistan to decide about its commitment to the project, despite the threat of UN sanctions against Iran.
The UN Security Council this month imposed a fourth set of sanctions on Iran for refusing to suspend a uranium enrichment programme which world powers suspect is masking a drive to make nuclear weapons.
"Pakistan is a sovereign nation and it can take a decision in the light of the UN resolution," Hague said.
Copyright © 2010 AFP. All rights reserved. More »
(AFP) – 8 hours ago
ISLAMABAD — Foreign Secretary William Hague pledged on Wednesday to deepen strategic relations with Pakistan as he paid his first visit to Islamabad since the coaltion government took power.
"We are keen to deepen the UK-Pakistan strategic dialogue," the Conservative politician told a news conference, without elaborating.
The previous Labour government said that 75 percent of extremist plots affecting Britain -- which is home to an estimated one million people of Pakistani descent -- have links to Pakistan.
Hague paid tribute to the "enormous sacrifices" made by Pakistan in the widening fight against Islamist militants in the northwest region bordering Afghanistan, where British troops are locked in a war against the Taliban.
"Many thousands of soldiers in Pakistan have lost their lives in battling against violent extremism, and so I think that this must be understood all over the world," he said.
Hague met Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, and is scheduled to hold talks with President Asif Ali Zardari and speak to business leaders.
Britain has increased development aid to Pakistan to £665 million (992 million dollars) over four years, including £50 million to support stabilisation and reconstruction in conflict-hit areas, Hague said.
Britain is the second-largest investor in Pakistan after the United States with two-way trade now worth more than one billion pounds, up 30 percent over the past five years, according to Pakistani data.
Briefing reporters at the British High Commission's residence later Hague said Britain would like to work with Pakistan in efforts towards reconciliation in Afghanistan.
"We do want to work together on establishing security, peace safety and stability of Afghanistan. We recognise Pakistan's particular interest in that, and we look to work together for an Afghan-led process of reconciliation," he added.
He refused to comment when asked if the possible departure of the US commander of international forces in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, could be a setback for NATO efforts in the war-torn country.
"It's a matter for the US and NATO as a whole, so I don't want to speculate on that," Hague said.
President Barack Obama has summoned McChrystal to the White House in Washington, amid speculation that the four-star US general might be fired for disparaging remarks about senior US officials, as quoted in a magazine article.
On a multi-million-dollar gas pipeline project recently agreed between Iran and Pakistan, Hague said it was up to Pakistan to decide about its commitment to the project, despite the threat of UN sanctions against Iran.
The UN Security Council this month imposed a fourth set of sanctions on Iran for refusing to suspend a uranium enrichment programme which world powers suspect is masking a drive to make nuclear weapons.
"Pakistan is a sovereign nation and it can take a decision in the light of the UN resolution," Hague said.
Copyright © 2010 AFP. All rights reserved. More »
Last edited:
