Britain to double assistance for Pakistan

Islamabad, Nov 19 (UNI) Pakistan and Britain today signed the development partnership agreement, which will double the British assistance to Islamabad from 236 million pounds to 480 million pounds over the next three years.

The agreement was signed in Islamabad following talks between the visiting British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his Pakistani counterpart Shaukat Aziz in Islamabad.

A joint declaration issued here this evening, quoted Pakistani and British leaders as welcoming the signing of the agreement.

The British Prime Minister undertook to double UK's development assistance over to bolster Pakistan government's efforts for reducing poverty.

''President Musharraf and Prime Minister Blair underlined the deep ties between their countries, strengthened by the approximately one million British citizens of Pakistani heritage in the UK and expressed their determination to continue to work together to achieve the Millennium Development Goals,'' the declaration said.

It said Mr Blair paid tributes to the statesmanship of President Pervez Musharraf and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in seeking to resolve outstanding issues including the Kashmir issue.

He noted the progress that had been made by both the leaders since the establishment of composite dialogue in January 2004 and welcomed the meeting of the two foreign secretaries, as part of that process on November 14 last.

Mr Blair expressed his hope that the joint mechanism established in Havana on September 16 would yield concrete results.

On the issue of terrorism, the two leaders reiterated their firm determination to counter the menace in all its forms and manifestations.

''They expressed their resolve to support forces emphasising moderation over confrontation and extremism", said the declaration.

Mr Musharraf and Mr Blair also agreed to strengthen the regular dialogue between the two governments through establishing a joint working group between the Interior Ministry of Pakistan and the Home Office in UK to strengthen co-operation on counter narcotics, counter terrorism, illegal immigration and transnational organised crime.

The first meeting of this working group will take place in Islamabad.

On the Afghan issue, Mr Blair and Mr Musharraf reaffirmed the importance of bringing stability and economic progress to Afghanistan.

''They recognised that security is crucial to Afghanistan's progress and pledged to work together with the government of Afghanistan and other international partners to curb the violence through effective action against Taliban,'' said the declaration.

UNI XC MS MIR KP1856