Situation in Pakistan fragile: Britain

New Delhi, May 18: Describing the situation in Pakistan as ''fragile'', Britain today said the stabilisation of security and political situation in the country was necessary to check the influence of Taliban and al-Qaeda activities in the region.

''The situation is certainly very fragile and the administration and the judiciary should work together to avoid confrontation in the interest of peace and stability in Pakistan as well as in the South Asian region,'' British Minister of State of Foreign office Kim Howells told reporters here.

Dr Howells held wide ranging discussions with Minister of State for External Affair E Ahamed on the developments in Afghanistan and Iraq as well as situation in West Asia.

He said the reemergence of taliban and al Qaeda was not only dangerous for President Pervez Musharraf but also for India and Afghanistan.

He dismissed reports that the Pakistan government was assisting talibans. He said there were traditional links between taliban and Pakistan. It goes back to the Soviet invasion on Afghanistan in 1979. The Minister said there were still lakhs of Afghan refugees in Pakistan.

He said the talibans had become active in NWFP and Balochistan and the Pakistan government was making every effort to check their actvities. He blamed war lords, involved in drug trafficking, of supporting talibanisation.

The Minister, who also visited Asom, lauded India's efforts in reconstruction and rebuilding of Afghanistan. The Indian government was involved in projects worth 750 million dollar in that country.

UNI

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