Zeeshan S.
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Pakistan Taking Solid Measures to deal with Country's Security
By Raza Mumtaz 'Pakistan Times' Executive Editor/UK Bureau Chief
LONDON (UK): Appropriate measures taken by the Pakistan Government to address all issues concerning country's internal security requirements was stressed upon by the Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao.
He was speaking at a question and answer session after delivering his keynote address at the day long conference on "Pakistan: Strategic Challenges and Prospects" organized jointly by the Royal United Defense Services Institute (RUSI), the Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI) and the Pakistan High Commission.
The Minister said sectarianism, terrorism and extremism were the three main dangers facing the country at present and the Government was responding to these challenges in a positive manner.
He mentioned the arrest of some 4000 Al-Qaeda elements of which 2,000 have been handed over to the foreign countries.
The Minister stated that Pakistan was sharing intelligence with Afghanistan and the ISAF and this kind of exchange has helped the parties to deal with the terrorism in a better way.
He noted sacrifices rendered by Pakistan Army in the war against terrorism and said these were much higher than the casualties of the coalition forces in Afghanistan.
The Interior Minister said with the help of the international community, Pakistan was endeavoring to repatriate the remaining Afghan refugees to their own country and expressed the hope that the whole exercise would be completed by 2009.
Sherpao informed the gathering that two camps each in Baluchistan and NWFP have already been closed down and the inmates returned to Afghanistan.
Nevertheless, he stated that since the tribal people straddled Pak-Afghan border areas, their daily crossing of borders was difficult to supervise given the huge numbers who move across the borders.
Pakistan, he said, was hopeful that the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan and the Afghan Army itself would take necessary steps to seal their side of the border. Peace in Afghanistan, he noted, was of utmost importance to Pakistan and the region itself.
Referring to the Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa issues, he said these would be resolved amicably as the Government was in touch with the management of the seminaries to diffuse the situation.
Sir Mark Lyall Grant
Earlier, Sir Mark Lyall Grant, Political Director at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, in his speech on the occasion spoke of the close links between the UK and Pakistan and the future challenges and prospects.
'The UK has a long term commitment to Pakistan's future. We are closely linked and we share common goals, to defeat terrorism, to tackle extremism, and to share a peaceful and prosperous future', he told the gathering.
Pakistan, he said was a key strategic partner for the UK and that goes much wider than counter terrorism.
Sir Lyall, the former UK High Commissioner to Pakistan, said bilateral trade has doubled in the last four years and is very closely in balance, which is unusual for Pakistanâs trade relationships.
The UK, he said, is the largest single investor in Pakistan and has championed efforts to improve Pakistan's interests within the European Union * trade access, tariff barrier etc.
Pakistan has now become the second largestrecipient of British development assistance. Last year Prime Minister Tony Blair announced the doubling of the development programme in Pakistan over three years from 236 million pounds to 480 million pounds over 3 years.
A ten year development partnership was signed in November, which specifically underlines that theUKâs commitment is a long-term one to Pakistanâs people, not linked to a particular individual or government.
He spoke of the establishment of a joint working group on counter-terrorism which met for the first time in Islamabad in February this year.
The group, he added, will meet regularly to take the work forward under the aegis of the Home Office and the Pakistan Ministry of Interior. "This will supplement the good work that was already being done in the joint judicial working group, which has a wider remit looking at issues such as mutual legal assistance, extradition and migration."
He said the Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith's recent visit to Pakistan has helped foster a better understanding of our respective judicial and police systems because this can be a source of contention.
"His visit underlined the importance of respecting international and domestic legal obligations in combating terrorism. Disrupting individual terrorist attacks is vital, but to deter future acts, it is also essential to bring terrorists to justice through the judicial systems in either Pakistan or the UK."
Sir Lyall said the UK strongly supports the Pakistan Governmentâs efforts to tackle extremism and promote enlightened moderation. âSome recent developments we have welcomed include last yearâs amendments to Hudood ordinances, education and curriculum reform, and
Of Womenâs Rights
President Musharrafâs championing of womenâs rights are important expressions of the Governmentâs intent to tackle extremism."
The British diplomat said the ten year bilateral development partnership commits both countries to make every effort to meet the Millennium Development Goals.
Department for International Development's support for education in Punjab and NWFP, investment and trade links, access to justice projects all demonstrate practical ways in which the British Government is helping promote that enlightened moderation agenda.
Praising Pakistan's efforts in the global war against terror, he said Pakistan military effort is central to the international communityâs attempts to defeat the Taliban in Afghanistan.
"We acknowledge the steps that the Pakistan authorities have taken and the considerable effort and resources that the Government is putting in to tighten controls on movement across the border."●
http://www.pakistantimes.net/2007/04/19/top3.htm
By Raza Mumtaz 'Pakistan Times' Executive Editor/UK Bureau Chief
LONDON (UK): Appropriate measures taken by the Pakistan Government to address all issues concerning country's internal security requirements was stressed upon by the Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao.
He was speaking at a question and answer session after delivering his keynote address at the day long conference on "Pakistan: Strategic Challenges and Prospects" organized jointly by the Royal United Defense Services Institute (RUSI), the Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI) and the Pakistan High Commission.
The Minister said sectarianism, terrorism and extremism were the three main dangers facing the country at present and the Government was responding to these challenges in a positive manner.
He mentioned the arrest of some 4000 Al-Qaeda elements of which 2,000 have been handed over to the foreign countries.
The Minister stated that Pakistan was sharing intelligence with Afghanistan and the ISAF and this kind of exchange has helped the parties to deal with the terrorism in a better way.
He noted sacrifices rendered by Pakistan Army in the war against terrorism and said these were much higher than the casualties of the coalition forces in Afghanistan.
The Interior Minister said with the help of the international community, Pakistan was endeavoring to repatriate the remaining Afghan refugees to their own country and expressed the hope that the whole exercise would be completed by 2009.
Sherpao informed the gathering that two camps each in Baluchistan and NWFP have already been closed down and the inmates returned to Afghanistan.
Nevertheless, he stated that since the tribal people straddled Pak-Afghan border areas, their daily crossing of borders was difficult to supervise given the huge numbers who move across the borders.
Pakistan, he said, was hopeful that the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan and the Afghan Army itself would take necessary steps to seal their side of the border. Peace in Afghanistan, he noted, was of utmost importance to Pakistan and the region itself.
Referring to the Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa issues, he said these would be resolved amicably as the Government was in touch with the management of the seminaries to diffuse the situation.
Sir Mark Lyall Grant
Earlier, Sir Mark Lyall Grant, Political Director at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, in his speech on the occasion spoke of the close links between the UK and Pakistan and the future challenges and prospects.
'The UK has a long term commitment to Pakistan's future. We are closely linked and we share common goals, to defeat terrorism, to tackle extremism, and to share a peaceful and prosperous future', he told the gathering.
Pakistan, he said was a key strategic partner for the UK and that goes much wider than counter terrorism.
Sir Lyall, the former UK High Commissioner to Pakistan, said bilateral trade has doubled in the last four years and is very closely in balance, which is unusual for Pakistanâs trade relationships.
The UK, he said, is the largest single investor in Pakistan and has championed efforts to improve Pakistan's interests within the European Union * trade access, tariff barrier etc.
Pakistan has now become the second largestrecipient of British development assistance. Last year Prime Minister Tony Blair announced the doubling of the development programme in Pakistan over three years from 236 million pounds to 480 million pounds over 3 years.
A ten year development partnership was signed in November, which specifically underlines that theUKâs commitment is a long-term one to Pakistanâs people, not linked to a particular individual or government.
He spoke of the establishment of a joint working group on counter-terrorism which met for the first time in Islamabad in February this year.
The group, he added, will meet regularly to take the work forward under the aegis of the Home Office and the Pakistan Ministry of Interior. "This will supplement the good work that was already being done in the joint judicial working group, which has a wider remit looking at issues such as mutual legal assistance, extradition and migration."
He said the Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith's recent visit to Pakistan has helped foster a better understanding of our respective judicial and police systems because this can be a source of contention.
"His visit underlined the importance of respecting international and domestic legal obligations in combating terrorism. Disrupting individual terrorist attacks is vital, but to deter future acts, it is also essential to bring terrorists to justice through the judicial systems in either Pakistan or the UK."
Sir Lyall said the UK strongly supports the Pakistan Governmentâs efforts to tackle extremism and promote enlightened moderation. âSome recent developments we have welcomed include last yearâs amendments to Hudood ordinances, education and curriculum reform, and
Of Womenâs Rights
President Musharrafâs championing of womenâs rights are important expressions of the Governmentâs intent to tackle extremism."
The British diplomat said the ten year bilateral development partnership commits both countries to make every effort to meet the Millennium Development Goals.
Department for International Development's support for education in Punjab and NWFP, investment and trade links, access to justice projects all demonstrate practical ways in which the British Government is helping promote that enlightened moderation agenda.
Praising Pakistan's efforts in the global war against terror, he said Pakistan military effort is central to the international communityâs attempts to defeat the Taliban in Afghanistan.
"We acknowledge the steps that the Pakistan authorities have taken and the considerable effort and resources that the Government is putting in to tighten controls on movement across the border."●
http://www.pakistantimes.net/2007/04/19/top3.htm
