Pakistan and the United Kingdom on 5 April formally launched 'enhanced strategic dialogue' aimed at strengthening ties in security, trade, health and education sectors. Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and his British counterpart David Cameron, while addressing a press conference after a day-long interaction that also covered the UK-Pakistan National Security Dialogue and a meeting with the heads of parliamentary parties, vowed to enhance bilateral investments and encourage their private sectors to help increase bilateral trade from 1.2 to 2.5 billion pounds by 2015.
Prime Minister Cameron termed the Pakistan-UK ties 'unbreakable' and said the two sides focused on trade, security and education sectors. He said he had also increased Pakistan's market access to Europe.
Security Issue
On the security sector, Cameron said that the two sides agreed on police services and intelligence cooperation, besides discussing the importance of Pakistan-Afghanistan relationship. He said that both the countries shared the need of having a peaceful, stable and democratic Afghanistan. 'Pakistan suffered greatly in tackling terrorism and extremism,' he said, adding that there was a huge fight being waged by the Pakistani Government against terrorists and the United Kingdom had a share in combating terrorism.
Education Sector
On education, Cameron said that the United Kingdom had launched a new package to help Pakistan in imparting education to four million children, training to 90,000 teachers and provision of six million text books.
Responding to a question on spending a huge amount on Pakistan's education, Cameron said his coalition government had increased the overseas budget by 7.7 per cent of the gross national income as it was in the interest of the United Kingdom to support the poorest in the poor countries in education, maternal health and in fighting poverty.
Terming illiteracy a root-cause of terrorism, Gilani said that the focus was on education in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and remote areas. He said that more than 30,000 Pakistani students were in Britain for education and called for extending more scholarships. Asked about the visa issues, the British Prime Minister said that the processing had been shifted out of Pakistan 'to make it more efficient.'
Extradition Treaty
When asked about return of former President Pervez Musharraf to Pakistan, David Cameron said that the two countries did not have any extradition treaty and also a 'proper application' was needed to be made to proceed in that regard.
Regarding Pakistan's role on extremism and terrorism, Prime Minister Gilani said Pakistan had rendered unprecedented sacrifices and lost more soldiers and civilians than the combined losses of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
Trade Relations
Pakistani President Zardari sought closer ties in other areas, pledging to boost bilateral trade from £1.9 billion a year to £2.5 billion a year by 2015, and announcing up to £650 million over four years for education.
The aid money will help four million children go to school through providing training for 90,000 teachers and six million new textbooks. Cameron promised to continue to advocate for Pakistan to gain enhanced trade access to the European Union, including through GSP.
Strategic Dialogue
The Pakistan-UK strategic dialogue was a significant step and was vital for both sides, for this region and for the world as a whole. The need for the two sides to gear up to achieve the objectives that the two countries have set for both countries in the declaration of enhanced strategic dialogue.
The national security dialogue, comprising political, military and intelligence tracks will lead to creating a better understanding in bringing about clarity on issues of global, regional peace and security.
Peace and Stability in Afghanistan
About the Afghan issue, the president said peace and stability in Afghanistan was necessary for regional peace and emphasized on the Afghan-led peace process in the country rather than foreign led. The president said an appreciation of the dynamics of human relations by the international community was no less important than machines and weapons.
Future ProspectsTo start a new era in the relations between Pakistan and the United Kingdom, the governments and people from both the sides should clear up the misunderstandings of the past, work through the tensions of the present and look together to the opportunities of the future.
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