Pakistan President Asif Zardari meets Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg

Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari

Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg has met with Pakistan’s President, Asif Ali Zardari, in the run up to the party’s Autumn conference.

The President was keen to meet with Nick Clegg during a private visit he is making to the UK. Discussions were held on the important role Pakistan plays in foreign policy, the upcoming British General Election and the contribution the Pakistani community makes in the UK.

Nick Clegg was joined by the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Manchester Gorton Qassim Afzal, who helped to arrange the meeting.

Commenting, Nick Clegg said:

“This meeting was important as the Liberal Democrats run councils in urban areas of Britain which have a large and vibrant Pakistani community.

“The President and I spent time discussing how Pakistanis can continue to fully integrate in the UK and starve any extremist views that might take hold.

“It is vital that we support Pakistan in the fight against terrorism and the Taliban and continue to provide assistance to the refugees in the Swat Valley.”

Commenting, PPC for Manchester Gorton, Qassim Afzal said:

“It is essential to continue to build bridges between the UK and Pakistan and this meeting is a positive move in developing this.

“As the candidate for Manchester Gorton I’m very proud to represent the Liberal Democrats as the truest home for equality and diversity for all.”

Hague sends message to mark Pakistan Independence Dayconservat

William Hague has sent a message to Asif Ali Zardari, the President of Pakistan, to mark the 62^nd anniversary of the country’s independence from Britain.

In his message, William, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, said, “I would like to congratulate Pakistan on the 62^nd anniversary of its independence, and extend the best wishes of the Conservative Party. My party and I are proud of the ties that link our two countries, whether they be personal, historical or political.”

“As a party, we are determined to deepen our links to Pakistan and help it to become one of the success stories of South Asia.”

PRESSURE MOUNTS ON PM FOR AFGHAN RETHINK

Questioning the Prime Minister today (Monday) after a G8 statement in the House of Commons SNP Westminster leader and Defence spokesperson, Angus Robertson MP, repeated calls for a serious review of UK strategy in Afghanistan – after next months Afghan elections – reflecting the widening conflict and concerns in relation to Pakistan.

Mr Robertson, who visited troops in Afghanistan in March, also expressed fears the window of opportunity in Afghanistan had been undermined because of the invasion of Iraq .

Mr Robertson said:

“We must have a candid review of strategy in Afghanistan , and take stock of the situation faced by our forces and of course the likelihood for success.

“From military commanders to the families of frontline troops people are not convinced that the best strategy has been pursued. The awful toll of military personnel killed in Afghanistan has understandably led to questions about just what our forces are fighting for, and there is a fear that the Iraq war has been a distraction from the early window of opportunity in Afghanistan .

“After almost eight years our military personnel deserve a realistic and focussed approach from the UK government – and Ministers must take the initiative after the Afghan elections next month to rethink our strategy and objectives reflecting the wider regional concerns.

“Earlier this year I saw at first hand the reality of the situation facing our brave forces, now is the time for total candour on the human and material cost of the ongoing operations, its timescale and its chances for success.

“A military solution is clearly not enough – the idea that you are only going to secure your objective militarily is wrong. Perhaps most crucially we need development, as the UK’s former ambassador to the UN, Sir Jeremy Greenstock, says the army has been "holding a wall up" in Helmand, but "no one has come along to build a buttress" of development.

“What is required is a major rethink that looks at all the options, and that will give people, not least our troops themselves, the confidence that the right strategy is being pursued and is achievable.”

(DFID) Swift UK response to un appeal for Pakistan

The UK has given an additional £10 million to help over 2,000,000 people displaced by the fighting in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and North West Frontier Province of Pakistan. This is in immediate response to an urgent UN Appeal for humanitarian assistance for those fleeing the unrest in Pakistan, announced Secretary of State for International Development Douglas Alexander today.

The new commitment brings the UK's contribution to addressing the humanitarian situation in Pakistan to £22m. The £10 million will be distributed through the UN to aid agencies working in NWFP. They will provide food, water emergency shelter and other critical humanitarian help to those most in need.

Secretary of State for International Development Douglas Alexander said:

"The UK is deeply concerned for the wellbeing of over two million people displaced by this conflict. A mass movement of people of this scale poses huge humanitarian challenges. The aid agencies on the ground are doing heroic work under extremely difficult conditions and we are determined to support their efforts. This extra money will help the UN manage a coordinated and effective international response to this crisis to allow those affected by the fighting take the first steps towards rebuilding their lives.

"The UK stands ready to assist the Government of Pakistan to combat the shared threat of violent extremism and we remain strongly committed to our partnership with the people of Pakistan."

DFID is providing £665 million of assistance to Pakistan from 2009 to 2013. By 2011, it will be the UK's second largest development programme worldwide. We are committing £250 million over five years to help put more children into school, improve teaching and provide the skills young people need to get jobs.

UK and Pakistan to work together against terrorism

The Prime Minister and the President of Pakistan have committed to work together to address the threat of terrorism.

Gordon Brown spoke with President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday about the need for a joint counter-terrorism effort following the arrests of twelve suspected terrorists in locations across North West England on Wednesday evening. Eleven of those arrested were Pakistani nationals.

Downing Street said that during a phone call on Thursday evening, both leaders agreed that they share a serious threat from terrorism and violent extremism and should work together to tackle it.

Speaking to the media during a visit to Carlisle on Thursday, the Prime Minister said:

“I think one important part of this that has got to be recognised is that increasingly we have seen terrorist links with Pakistan and Britain. I’ll be talking to the Pakistan President, Mr Zardari. We want the closest of cooperation between Britain and Pakistan to deal with countering terrorism and I think one of the lessons we are learning from the events of the past few years is that Pakistan has got to do more to root out the terrorist elements in its country as well.”

Mr Brown praised the police forces involved in Wednesday’s arrests for their part in foiling what he described as a “major terrorist plot”.

He added:

“We had to act preemptively to ensure the safety of the public. The safety of the public is the paramount concern in everything that we do.”