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.'
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