July 27, 2008	Sunday	Rajab 23, 1429

BIRMINGHAM, July 26: British Foreign Secretary David Miliband has said London supports Pakistan’s comprehensive and multi-pronged strategy against terrorism.

Speaking at a joint press conference on Friday evening, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and his British counterpart David Miliband noted the complexity of the issue and said it could be resolved through sustained efforts by all the stakeholders.

The British foreign secretary said the UK and Pakistan stood united in “our determination against the danger posed by terrorism, not only to the UK but also to Pakistan”.

“We need to make sure that we work bilaterally so as to recognise that we share interests within the borders of Afghanistan and outside,” Miliband added.

He dispelled the impression that the UK was not giving the new government in Islamabad the breathing space to make its own strategy to meet the challenges of terrorism and said: “Britain backed up its support not only with political statements but with a very large economic package.”

Mr Qureshi informed the media of his deep and substantive interaction with Mr Miliband in London on a number of bilateral issues and ways and means of further strengthening bilateral ties.

Asked if the new government in Islamabad had failed to win the confidence of the international community and that was why it could not sell its strategy on terrorism to the world, he said the new democratic government needed space and time to settle down. But he also claimed that his government had the support of both the UK and the US and other western countries that were all keen to see the strengthening of its democratic institutions.

The foreign minister said Pakistan needed an action plan to implement its strategy and to achieve these objectives the country required international support and assistance to deal with the menace of extremism and terrorism.

Answering a question, Mr Qureshi said the Pakistan government was not talking to militants but with tribal elders and elected representatives of Fata.

He said the objective was to wean away those with extremist tendencies through talks and through uplift of the under-developed areas.

He said that in his discussion with Miliband they had commonality of interest and views and there was a desire on both sides to work together.

Mr Miliband said Britain remained a good friend of Pakistan and it was important for the two countries to work together to address the global concerns on security and economic issues.