LONDON: Hoping that there would be better and more secure relationship between India and Pakistan, Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said he expected to play a part in persuading Pakistan to focus more on the terrorist issues within its own borders.

Speaking at his regular monthly press conference, the British prime minister said he recognised that India’s difficulties arose from the Mumbai bombing and what that had done, and the action that had got to be taken as a result of that. 

‘I know that there will be general support for what I’ve called a regional strategy, where we deal with the crucible of terrorism, which is the south of Afghanistan and those parts of Pakistan that are controlled by, or are in the hands of, the Pakistan Taliban and al Qaeda,’ he added.

He said he believed progress could be made ‘over the next period of time’. He welcomed and congratulated Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, ‘who is now re-elected as prime minister.’

‘He (Singh) is a very good friend of mine. He’s done a huge amount of work, not only in India but around the world, in promoting economic growth and the relief of poverty,’ added the prime minister.

Speaking about the Sri Lankan situation, the prime minister said he had told the Sri Lankan president that he must begin a political process for involving the Tamil people and other communities in his country. 

‘I have offered humanitarian aid, but asked him to ensure that displaced persons are given the humanitarian aid that they need urgently,’ he added.

He said he thought there was potentially a humanitarian problem of very high proportions, ‘large numbers of displaced persons, and I believe that it’s the duty of the Sri Lankan government to show that all the needs of all the people are being taken into account. And we will certainly provide humanitarian aid, but the duty and responsibility lies with the Sri Lankan government’.