July 07, 2008	Monday	Rajab 3, 1429

ISLAMABAD, July 6: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Sunday expressed his government’s desire to consolidate diplomatic, political and economic ties with the United Kingdom.

In a meeting with a delegation of Defence Select Committee of the House of Commons, he said friendly relations between the two countries were rooted in historical bonds.

The delegation is headed by chairman of the committee James Arbuthnot.

The prime minister said that deep-rooted bilateral relations represented shared values and commonality of perception on many regional and global issues.

He called for increase in military training assistance provided by the UK to Pakistan’s armed forces under the defence-related activities programme and enhancement of defence cooperation through the Pakistan-UK Defence Cooperation Forum (DCF).

He said that Pakistan regarded the UK as its key economic partner, being the second largest investor and the third largest trading partner.

He said that restoration of law and order and economy were the main priorities of his government.

He said he was mindful of the fact that a single incident of terrorism in Pakistan led to flight of foreign capital from the country and discouraged the flow of foreign investment.

The prime minister said that terrorism and extremism were a global phenomenon and Pakistan being a frontline state had sacrificed a lot, including assassination of Benazir Bhutto.

He said that war against terrorism was in Pakistan’s own interest as well as in the interest of humanity at large.

He said that Pakistan had entered into political dialogue with elements who had renounced terrorism by laying down arms and was accelerating the pace of economic development in the country ‘especially in tribal areas’ and resorting to military means only if agreements were violated.

Pakistan, he said, would never negotiate with militants and terrorists nor would allow its soil to be used by foreigners against another country.—APP