UK minister hails talks between India and Pakistan
By Our Reporter
KARACHI, Jan 10: Britain has welcomed a 'significant improvement' in the composite dialogue between Pakistan and India over the past 10 months and attributed it to the courage shown by leaders of both the countries.
"We are ready to work with international partners for normalization of relations between the two countries and resolving outstanding issues, including Kashmir,'' said the visiting British Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Investment, Douglas Alexander, while responding to a question after his keynote address at a discussion on Relations Between Pakistan and Britain in the New Millennium here on Monday.
The event was organized by the Karachi Council on Foreign Relations, Economic Affairs and Law on the premises of the British Deputy High Commission. In his speech, MP Douglas Alexander said that Britain welcomes President Pervez Musharraf's commitment to strengthening democratic process and encouraging wider political participation, particularly among women in Pakistan.
This year's local bodies elections and the parliamentary elections due in 2007 are opportunities to make real progress. We believe that all political parties must work together towards reconciliation for future prosperity of the country.
"There is too much at stake for petty rivalries to hinder progress in this area." He felt that when people would be able to participate in the development of their communities and countries, and so determine their future, they would be less likely to turn to militancy and extremism as an outlet for their political ambitions.
"That is why we view success of the presidential polls in Afghanistan as an important step, and are putting so much effort into coming elections in Iraq.'' Mr Alexander said Britain and Pakistan shared a range of common strategic interests which had bound both the countries today.
From international trade and development to countering terrorism and narcotics, they were working closely together. He pointed out that bilateral trade over the last three years had grown by over 20 per cent and today, it came to one billion pounds.
UK was the second largest overseas investor in Pakistan and fifth largest trading partner among OECD states, with over 77 British companies operating in this country at present.
Mr Alexander said: "I welcome President Musharraf's vision of enlightened moderation and, most recently, his recognition that extremism is biggest challenge facing Pakistan. I hope practical steps will be taken in Pakistan, as in the UK, to ensure that activities of those preaching violence and extremism are curtailed.''
He said Britain warmly welcomed leadership shown by President Musharraf in grasping opportunity to establish durable peace with India. "But it is crucial this task is not left to politicians alone.
Business community has a critical role to play in building bilateral ties, including trade, to ensure that popular demand for peace becomes unstoppable. People-to-people links are also important. The recent conference of Kashmiris from both sides of the line of control in Nepal was one such example.
Answering a question, he said his country welcomed composite dialogue between Islamabad and Delhi. "We stand ready, with international community, for normalization of relations between the two countries and resolving outstanding issues, including Kashmir.''
He pointed out that Pakistan enjoyed a year of strong economic growth. But this apparent prosperity needed to find its way down to many millions of Pakistanis still living in abject poverty if Pakistan was going to meet the Millennium Development Goals.
He disclosed that the UK was working closely with Pakistan to support Islamabad's poverty reduction strategy, and was spending 200 million pounds over a three-year period on economic reform, health care and education, which appeared fundamental to employment and economic growth.
The British minister said that Pakistan's role in preventing terrorists and weapons crossing the border was also vital to long-term peace in Afghanistan. British Deputy High Commissioner Hamish Daniel and Secretary General of the Karachi Council on Foreign Relations Ahsan Zuberi also spoke on the occasion.
