Miliband says Pakistan's domestic issues causing terrorism

Glasgow, Apr. 18 (ANI): British Foreign Secretary David Miliband has said that Pakistan's internal problems are a major factor for the spread of terrorism in the country, not the presence of United States and British forces in Afghanistan.

In a meeting with the Muslim community in Glasgow, Miliband said Pakistan faced more threats from internal terrorism, as it was facing various lingual, ethnic and sectarian problems

Islamabad's democratic institutions could not be strengthened by military rules in the country, he added.

The British Foreign Secretary said Pakistan's democracy was very weak and "Britain is extending all possible assistance to strengthen it" as part of London's foreign policy.

"I think the big foreign policy concerns in Britain's Muslim community relates to Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Middle East peace process, development in Africa. These are big issues that aren't just issues for governments but are issues for people too," the Daily Times quoted him, as saying.

Miliband said Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari had said that terrorism was Pakistan's own problem and it would root it out effectively.

He added that the most important thing was that the British Muslim community considered themselves British.

"They want to make sure it represents what they perceive to be the values that hold us all together," he said.(ANI)