Pakistan’s anti-terror efforts lauded by British foreign secretary

Islamabad, June 23 (IANS/EFE) British Foreign Secretary William Hague said Wednesday that Pakistan’s commitment to the struggle against terror should be understood by everyone and criticized a recent report accusing the Pakistani secret services of giving support to the Taliban in Afghanistan.

The report of the London School of Economics (LSE) “salutes the efforts (of Pakistan) in the battle against terrorism. Pakistan has made great sacrifices, in terms of military efforts (…).This should be understood all over the world,” stressed Hague in a joint press conference with his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmud Qureshi.

Hague, who arrived here on his first official visit to Pakistan since he took charge last May after the Conservatives came to power in London, promised to “build an even stronger relation” between both countries, “a long term, productive and friendly relation,” and ensured that the United Kingdom is committed to the democracy in Pakistan.

He recalled that London has approved of assigning an aid package worth 665 million pounds (nearly 1, 000 million dollars) during the coming four years.

Hague avoided answering questions about Pakistan’s bilateral issues with other countries, such as the objection of the United States to Islamabad taking forward a multimillion gas pipeline project to import gas from Iran.

Qureshi said Pakistan “needs energy” and “has developed a multiprongued strategy” of which “the gas pipeline project (with Iran) is one of the options”.

“Pakistan is a responsible state, committed to its international obligations,” he said.

Qureshi supported the position taken yesterday by Pakistani Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani that Pakistan will observe the sanctions imposed on Iran by the UN, but not those of a unilateral nature imposed by the US.

During his three day visit to Pakistan, Hague will meet with principle political and government authorities

–IANS/EFE