ISLAMABAD: British Prime Minister Gordon Brown pledged on Monday £10 million in assistance to help Pakistan fight extremism and militancy, but expressed no regrets over the arrest of Pakistani students against whom no evidence has been found.

‘We will stand up to extremism together. We will reverse this trend and take them (extremists) on. We have agreed on a new and stronger relationship between our countries — vital and urgent work we will undertake together which sets out our shared priorities of tackling violent extremism,’ Mr Brown said at a press conference, along with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.

The British prime minister’s visit to Islamabad, second in four months, came at a time when relations between the two countries are facing difficulties following the arrest of the students and subsequent maligning of Pakistan.

The underlying tension in relations was felt by all despite Mr Brown’s efforts to generate goodwill by offering assistance and speaking of reinforced ties.

Mr Brown said Pakistan and the UK would engage in a strategic dialogue on all issues relating to counter-terrorism and task forces and work teams would be constituted to take their cooperation forward in the fight against terrorism and extremism.

‘And we will support this close cooperation immediately by the UK delivering a £10 million package of counter-terrorism capacity, giving assistance to Pakistan’s agencies,’ said Mr Brown, who earlier in the day had described border areas between Pakistan and Afghanistan as the ‘crucible of terrorism’ and spoke of a new British strategy to tackle it.

The British premier said the two countries must work together ‘to tackle terrorism at its roots’. The underlying forces that perpetuate extremism and terrorism must be taken care of, he added.

Mr Brown said that strengthening of Pakistan-UK cooperation against terrorism would mark the ‘beginning of a new chapter in the relationship between the two countries and a greater support for development in the years to come’. He said his country would always be a friend of Pakistan.

Mr Brown defended the arrest of Pakistani students and said: ‘I think we have got to recognise that we have both got problems that are affecting both security of our citizens and sentiments in our country, with terrorist plots that have been planned and which some people are trying to execute.’

‘This terrorist threat that exists cannot be ignored, it cannot be wished away. Both the Prime Minister (Gilani) and I know that it is important that governments around the world take action to deal with violent extremism.’

He said that although the UK welcomed Pakistani students engaged in educational activities there, action would be taken wherever there was a problem.

Prime Minister Gilani expressed the hope that law would take its own course in the case of the students facing deportation and their studies would not be discontinued. He said the welfare of Pakistanis in the UK was of paramount importance for Pakistan.

Later, President Asif Ali Zardari held a meeting with the British prime minister, but he refused to address a press conference along with him, ostensibly because of differences over the students’ issue.

Mr Brown had earlier announced that he would address a joint press conference with Mr Zardari, but on landing in Islamabad from Kabul he was informed that Mr Zardari was not available for the media interaction because of ‘certain pressing engagements’.

During the meeting, the president expressed concern over the arrest of Pakistani students and expressed the hope that they would be allowed to continue their studies.

An official statement quoted the president as telling Mr Brown that he was hopeful the students would be provided a fair chance to defend themselves. Mr Zardari appreciated British support for Pakistan in its fight against militancy and extremism.