Britain's Blair in Pakistan for security talks

ISLAMABAD, Nov 18 (Reuters) British Prime Minister Tony Blair arrived in Pakistan today for talks with President Pervez Musharraf on how to defeat a resurgent Taliban, pool counter-terrorist intelligence and tackle militancy in Pakistan's religious schools.

Blair's spokesman said Britain and Pakistan would set up a joint working group between their interior ministries to promote closer links between their intelligence services.

Briton will also double its development aid, spending more on education in Pakistan's moderate Muslim schools to counter Islamic extremism, he said.

''President Musharraf talks about 'enlightened moderation', we are supporting (that policy),'' the spokesman said.

Blair's visit comes as about 5,000 British troops are in Afghanistan, part of a 31,000-strong NATO force, battling a revitalised Taliban insurgency.

A total of 41 British troops have been killed in Afghanistan since 2001 36 of them this year amid criticism the force is under strength and lacking enough armoured vehicles and helicopters.

REUTERS SY BS2231