ISLAMABAD: The United Kingdom assured the Pakistan government on Wednesday of greater cooperation, specifically in the counterterrorism sector.

The assurance conveyed by UK National Security Adviser Kim Darroch came ahead of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s visit to London later this month.

“The British government is committed to providing more support to Pakistan, in all fields, particularly in countering terrorism,” Mr Darroch was quoted in an interior ministry statement on his meeting with Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Office said: “The UK expressed its willingness to continue to assist Pakistan in areas of security and counterterrorism.”

The UK official’s visit is being seen in Islamabad’s diplomatic circles as a preparatory trip to Mr Sharif’s visit to London.

“Priority areas for discussions during the prime minister’s meetings in the United Kingdom are being identified,” a source privy to the meetings, said.

Mr Darroch’s discussions in Islamabad focused on Afghanistan, regional security, counterterrorism and bilateral relations.

Mr Sharif listed his government’s priorities during his interaction with Mr Darroch as he said: “Pakistan is facing huge challenges. The major issues faced by Pakistan are economy, energy and terrorism.”

He hinted at the need for enhancing aid for social sectors – particularly education and health – and underscored the government’s initiatives for addressing deficiencies in these areas.

“There is need to enhance investment in social sectors of health and education and we have taken steps towards these ends,” Mr Sharif said.

The prime minister explained his foreign policy priorities of “non-interference in Afghanistan, not indulging in arms race with India and working for regional peace and stability”.

These themes were repeated in all meetings that Mr Darroch had on Wednesday.

“No area of Pakistan will be allowed to be used for exporting terrorism. It is the policy of the government that the soil of Pakistan should not be used for exporting terrorism abroad,” the interior minister told him.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that Pakistan was a “stabilising factor” in the region in view of drawdown of coalition forces from Afghanistan. Pakistan, he said, wanted stable and peaceful Afghanistan.

The UK national security adviser was also briefed about the government’s initiative to begin peace talks with the Taliban.

Mr Darroch called for activation of the Joint Working Group on counterterrorism.

He expressed the hope that bilateral relations would continue to evolve on principles of mutual trust and shared common interest.

COAS: Mr Darroch, along with Gen Nicholas Houghton, Chief of Defence Staff British Armed Forces, and Simon Gass, special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, met Chief of Army Staff Gen Raheel Sharif at the General Headquarters.

“During the meeting, wide range of issues of mutual interest, including defence and security cooperation and measures contributing towards regional stability came under discussion,” the ISPR said.