Britain to stand by Pak through "thick and thin to help quell terror": Miliband

Islamabad, July 10 (ANI): Britain would continue its support to Pakistan and stand by the troubled nation through 'thick and thin' in its quest to rid the nation of terror, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband has said.

Miliband, who held separate talks with President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani here, assured the leaders that Britain would continue its support to Pakistan to overcome the number of challenges facing the country.

"The United Kingdom will stand by Pakistan through thick and thin to help it succeeds against militancy," The Daily Times quoted Miliband, as saying.

Commenting on the problems of Swat displaced, who have been forced to vacate their home in the Valley due to the military operation, Miliband assured of Britain's complete support for the rehabilitation of the internally displaced persons (IDPs).

"The displaced people have rendered immense sacrifices in the war against terror and need more attention of the world," he said.

During his meeting, Zardari told the British Foreign Secretary that Pakistan's economy has been greatly affected by the 'war on terror', and that it needed more support from both the European Union (EU) and the United States.

Zardari also highlighted the need for greater access for Pakistani products into the EU and US markets.

During their meeting, Gilani told Miliband that reconstruction and rehabilitation work has been started in the war hit Malakand Division of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), and people have started to return to their native places.

Gilani said that capacity building of law enforcement agencies (LEAs) would be one of the prime objectives of the government in the region, in order to enable them to counter extremism effectively after the withdrawal of the security forces.

However, he also said that international promises for the capacity building of LEAs are yet to be fulfilled. (ANI)