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PR. No.357/2008
Date: 26/11/2008
FOREIGN MINISTER QURESHI MEETS WITH BRITISH FOREIGN MINISTER
British Foreign Minister, David Miliband, is on a one day visit to Pakistan. The visit, his second in six months, underscores the importance the two countries attach to each other.
Mr. Miliband had a Breakfast meeting with the Foreign Minister today. He called on the Prime Minister also. Later, the British Foreign Minister will also call on the President.
During the substantive meeting between the two Foreign Ministers, bilateral relations, matters relating to the European Union, the Friends of Democratic Pakistan Forum, counter-terrorism, the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan’s relations with India were discussed.
Mr. Miliband, who is coming from Afghanistan, briefed the Foreign Minister on his visit. He underscored that greater world attention was now on Pakistan as an important player not just in the fight against terrorism but also in the regional economic and security context. He also underscored that there should be greater coordination with Pakistan on these issues.
Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi stated that there was greater coordination and trust between Pakistan and Afghanistan governments and a number of meetings and events had taken place. He stressed particularly on the issues of governance and drugs control in Afghanistan.
The Foreign Minister briefed his counterpart on the Government’s internal priorities and the concrete measures taken to meet the various challenges facing the country, including the Government’s multi-pronged strategy in the fight against terrorism, which was effective, showing results and had political and public ownership. He also expressed growing concern of the government as well as of the public over attacks from across the border into Pakistan territory.
The Foreign Minister briefed Mr. Miliband on the Composite Dialogue process with India and our endeavours to improve relations all around. He also underlined that the important issue of water sharing must be resolved quickly under the Indus Basin Treaty. The British Foreign Minister stated that the UK was desirous and would encourage closer interaction between the two countries.
The Foreign Minister underlined the importance Pakistan attaches to its relations with the EU and the need for the EU to give greater market access to Pakistani goods, with which the British Foreign Minister agreed.
Pakistan and Britain’s traditionally friendly relations are rooted in a long historical association. The UK is also Pakistan’s largest trading partner and the second largest foreign investor among the EU countries. Pakistan is also a recipient of UK’s development assistance of € 480 million for the years 2008-2011. The presence of around one million Pakistanis reinforces the relationship.
The UK was the first European country that established contacts with the newly elected government in Pakistan, when a number of Ministerial visits took place from the UK to reaffirm its commitment and support to Pakistan. There are several mechanisms in place which facilitate regular interaction between the two countries, including annual summits, annual bilateral consultations at the Foreign Secretaries level, Defence Cooperation Forum, Joint Judicial Cooperation Working Group, Trade and Investment Forum, and Working Group for Cooperation on Counter-Terrorism.
Islamabad
26 November 2008
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