Britain praises Pakistan's united front against terrorism

Islamabad - Britain's foreign secretary Thursday said that he saw greater political consensus in Pakistan on countering 'a multi-headed insurgency' which poses a grave threat to the country. 'For visitors to Pakistan, who come here every three or four months, what I see is an unprecedented degree of political unity (in the face of a security threat),' David Miliband told reporters in the eastern city of Lahore, where he met Punjab province's Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. Miliband praised Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, whose Pakistan People's Party leads the national government, and opposition leader Nawaz Sharif for forging a united front against terrorism, saying it took courage, compromise and vision. Pakistan is in the midst of its most concerted campaign against Islamist insurgents in the troubled north-west, and its security forces are gearing up for an offensive against top Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud in the South Waziristan tribal district on the Afghan border. Pakistani Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira announced Wednesday that the two-month-long operation in the Swat valley and its nearby districts had been completed, but a military spokesman did not rule out isolated clashes between troops and the militants. The anti-Taliban offensive is widely supported by Pakistani political groups and the people, but there are strong feelings in sections of society that Western countries and India are behind the insurgency to destabilize the lone Islamic nuclear power. However, Miliband on Thursday denied this. 'I think any suggestion of Western support to the Taliban is completely without foundation.' He said Britain, as 'a long-term friend,' was determined to support Pakistan not just as an aid donor but also in terms of trade by working towards opening of European markets to its products. 'We know that issues of socioeconomic development and social justice are absolutely critical to the future of the country.' Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said he appreciated the British assistance and added, 'I think all the initiatives and our historical bonds with Britain ... will further grow in the times to come.'