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LONDON, June 16: British Prime Minister Tony Blair is set to press Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf during a meeting in London on Tuesday to clamp down on extremists and encourage Pakistan to improve relations with India, the Foreign Office said.
The meeting between the two leaders follows talks here on Monday between Blair and Indian Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani focusing on India-Pakistan issues and Iraq.
A Foreign Office spokesman told AFP: “Obviously Pakistan is very important in the war against terrorism and certainly the terrorism issue will be on the agenda” when Blair meets Musharraf for lunch.
“We welcome steps taken thus far by President Musharraf to clamp down on terrorist and extremist groups in Pakistan,” the spokesman said.
He added: “Pakistan is aware that the international community would expect firm action against any terrorists seeking to use Pakistan as a safe haven.”
On the Kashmir dispute, the Foreign Office spokesman said: “This is a bilateral issue for India and Pakistan to resolve themselves while taking interests of Kashmiri people into account.”
“The prime minister will certainly encourage President Musharraf with his recent initiatives in improving India-Pakistan relations. There has been significant progress recently. We encourage that and welcome it,” the Foreign Office spokesman told AFP.
