BRUSSELS, Jan 24: Pakistan is playing a key role in fighting terrorism and acting as an anchor for international peace, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz told leading European Union officials here on Monday.

Mr Aziz, who started a three-day visit to Brussels late on Monday night, told European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso that Pakistan had "gone all the way" to fight terrorism, EU officials told Dawn.

Fighting extremism required a battle against poverty and deprivation and the injection of "hope for the future," the Pakistani leader was quoted as saying. Underlining Islamabad's demands for upgraded access to EU markets and the crucial role played by textiles in the Pakistani economy, Mr Aziz said every shirt exported to the EU helped a family in Pakistani.

Pakistan's textile sector should not be jeopardized as this would create a wider economic and political problem, he warned according to officials. Islamabad is campaigning hard to become eligible again for the EU's "GSP Plus" scheme of duty-free benefits, arguing that increased exports will help create jobs and fight extremism in the country.

A spokeswoman for Mr Barroso said the EU president voiced appreciation for Pakistan's international role. Mr Barroso had also underlined that the EU wanted Pakistan "to move" on negotiations on a so-called "readmission agreement," she said.

This would "facilitate the creation of a good atmosphere with EU member states," the commission spokeswoman said. This in turn would make it easier for the commission to explain Pakistan's trade difficulties to EU capitals.

"It is important to prove that Pakistan is also moving on this issue" of readmission, the spokeswoman said, adding that Mr Aziz had suggested that current discussions on the pact could now be held at a higher level.

"We need to see progress (on the readmission agreement) to create the right climate to be able to advance in other areas," said an EU official before the arrival of the Prime Minister.

Pakistan and the EU have been negotiating details of the accord for several months, but officials in Brussels say discussions must now be speeded up. The EU is seeking similar readmission pacts with several developing nations as part of its drive to clamp down on illegal immigration.

So far, however, only Sri Lanka and Macao have signed up. Discussions with Barroso and Ferrero-Waldner will also focus on Pakistan's regional role and relations with India and Afghanistan.