Bilateral ties: Britain pledges support in fight against militancy

ISLAMABAD: Britain is standing ‘shoulder-to-shoulder’ with Pakistan in the fight against terrorism and discussions are already under way on how London can help Islamabad enforce the recently announced internal security policy, the country’s high commissioner Philip Barton said on Friday. Barton was speaking to the media men a day after he officially presented his letter of credentials to President Mamnoon Hussain as Britain’s top envoy to Pakistan. The envoy said it was not for him to comment on policies devised by the government of Pakistan to tackle militancy. “[But] we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Pakistan government as they tackle terrorism in the country and we will support the government as it takes forward its efforts in this area,” he said.

Barton termed the internal security policy, unveiled by Chaudhry Nisar in parliament as part of Pakistan’s first-ever National Security Policy, a ‘very important’ strategy against terrorism. “We are already in discussions with the government on how we can support it in the implementation and delivery of that strategy.” He said Britain has already been collaborating with Pakistan on security issues in the past. “[The collaboration is] in terms of discussing strategy on how to best tackle the problem and deriving practical ways such as providing assistance on how you can bring criminals to justice,” Barton said. Barton reiterated his commitment of focusing on three areas: trade, education and security. He said the two countries are aiming to raise bilateral trade and investment to £3 billion per year by 2015. In order to achieve this target, he said, he will focus on making British businesses aware about good business opportunities in Pakistan. Published in The Express Tribune, March 1st, 2014.