May 27, 2008	Tuesday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 21, 1429

ISLAMABAD, May 26: Pakistan on Monday reiterated its stance that it would not allow movement of extremists between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

During a meeting with NWFP Governor Awais Ahmed Ghani, the prime minister’s adviser on interior, Mr Rehman Malik, said: “We oppose (illegal) cross-border movement and will cooperate with Nato forces to secure both sides of the border.”

Mr Malik made the statement ostensibly in response to a statement made by a Nato spokesman on Sunday that peace talks between Pakistani government and militants had led to an increase in attacks in Afghanistan.

During the meeting, the NWFP governor expressed the resolve to root out terrorism and said that tribal areas would not be allowed to be used for cross-border terrorism.

“We are committed to ensuring the security of forces on both sides (of the border) and, therefore, we are exerting more efforts to enhance the security of the coalition forces, the way Pakistan is doing for its own forces,” he added.

Mr Malik said the government “had not and will not” hold talks with extremists and terrorists.

He stressed the need for creating a conducive environment for the return of the internally-displaced persons to their homes in South Waziristan.

The governor said that the displaced people had already started returning to their homes because of the federal government’s support. The law and order situation in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) was also discussed.

Also on Monday, Mr Malik said that members of the business community in Hub town in Balochistan were being intimidated by elements who were against development and economic activities in the province.

Mr Malik directed the Balochistan police chief to take immediate steps to provide safety and security to the business community. He also asked head of the Frontier Corps to support police and beef up security in Hub.