London, Dec 3 (DPA) Britain Thursday pledged to give further support to Pakistan in the fight against terrorism while acknowledging the “sacrifices” the country and its army made for the cause.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown made the promise after talks in London with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, which focussed on the war in Afghanistan and the connected rise of terrorism in neighbouring Pakistan.
At a joint news conference, Brown hailed Pakistan’s efforts to counter the influence of the Taliban in both countries and paid tribute to the “huge sacrifices” made by Islamabad in fighting extremism.
“I offer you Prime Minister Gilani, our condolences and our solidarity. I salute the immense bravery of the Pakistan army, 30,000 of whom are taking the fight to the insurgency … this is a serious commitment being made by the people of Pakistan with the support of all parties,” said Brown.
He did not repeat his call for Pakistan to “do more” to track down and kill top Al Qaeda leaders believed to be in hiding in the north-west Pakistan border region with Afghanistan.
That call, made by Brown during a Commonwealth conference in Trinidad and Tobago last weekend, prompted strong rebuttals by Pakistan of the suggestion that it was not doing enough to combat terrorism.
