PAKISTAN: British Foreign Secretary says Pakistan is a vital partner in the region

Record ID: 559999

  • Title: PAKISTAN: British Foreign Secretary says Pakistan is a vital partner in the region
  • Date: 10th January 2010
  • Summary: ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (JANUARY 9, 2010) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF FOREIGN OFFICE BUILDING PAKISTANI FOREIGN MINISTER SHAH MEHMOOD QURESHI SHAKING HANDS WITH BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY DAVID MILIBAND MILIBAND VARIOUS OF MEETING BETWEEN PAKISTANI AND BRITISH DELEGATIONS EMBLEM OF PAKISTAN FOREIGN MINISTRY MILIBAND AND QURESHI STANDING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY DAVID MILIBAND, SAYING: "The London Conference on Afghanistan will look at Afghanistan's security needs, it will look at its development and government's needs and it will look at the regional contribution of countries in the region to the security and prosperity of Afghanistan." REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY DAVID MILIBAND, SAYING: "Pakistan is a vital partner in finding solutions and progress in Afghanistan, and that is why I am here. Stability, security and prosperity in Afghanistan depends in some part also on security, prosperity and stability in Pakistan." MILIBAND AND QURESHI REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) PAKISTAN'S FOREIGN MINISTER SHAH MEHMOOD QURESHI, SAYING: "Pakistan Ordinance Factory produces quality ammunition and if, so desired, and if sourced out to us, we can provide quality ammunition to the U.K and coalition forces in the region. And that can further our defence cooperation." REPORTERS END OF NEWS CONFERENCE PAKISTANI PRIME MINISTER YUSAF RAZA GILANI ARRIVING AND SHAKING HANDS WITH MILIBAND AND HIS ENTOURAGE QURESHI AND PAKISTANI OFFICIALS GILANI TALKING MILIBAND LISTENING MORE OF MEETING
  • Embargoed: 25th January 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Pakistan
  • Country: Pakistan
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVAE35VTTK35FGKK1GLO638OW7OP
  • Story Text: British Foreign Secretary David Miliband meets Pakistani leaders to discuss the upcoming London Conference on Afghanistan.
    British Foreign Secretary David Miliband, on his sixth official visit to Pakistan, said he was in Islamabad to discuss the London Conference on Afghanistan being held on January 28.
    "The London Conference on Afghanistan will look at Afghanistan's security needs, it will look at its development and government's needs and it will look at the regional contribution of countries in the region to the security and prosperity of Afghanistan," Miliband told a joint news conference with his Pakistani counterpart, Shah Mehmood Qureshi.
    He said over 60 countries would be attending the conference, but he had come to Pakistan to specifically assess Pakistan's perspective on the situation in the insurgency-torn neighbour.
    "Pakistan is a vital partner in finding solutions and progress in Afghanistan, and that is why I am here. Stability, security and prosperity in Afghanistan depends in some part also on security, prosperity and stability in Pakistan,"
    Miliband said.
    The conference, which will be presided by Miliband and supported by the United Nations, was originally intended to be held in Kabul, but in November the venue was changed to London.
    UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and Afghan president Hamid Karzai will attend the conference along with representatives of many of the 43 countries involved in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan.
    According to Foreign Ministry officials in London, a schedule will be drafted for the improvement of government in Afghanistan, the results of which will be evaluated in a follow up-conference in Kabul.
    Qureshi said Pakistan would participate in the conference " in a constructive and supportive manner" because peace in Afghanistan was vital for stability in Pakistan.
    He said the United Kingdom and Pakistan had agreed to establish a Pakistan-UK Foundation which will help "harness the resources of one million strong Pakistani diaspora in UK" to promote economic ties between the two countries.
    Qureshi also made a suggested that Pakistan could provide ammunition to the coalition forces in the region.
    "Pakistan Ordinance Factory produces quality ammunition and if, so desired, and if sourced out to us, we can provide quality ammunition to the U.K and coalition forces in the region. And that can further our defence cooperation," he said.
    Later, Miliband met Prime Minister Yusaf Raza Gilani.
    According to a statement released from the Prime Minister's office, Gilani told Miliband he hoped that during the London Conference "the historic neutrality of Afghanistan should be maintained with the commitment that Afghan soil will not be used against any of its neighbours."
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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