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British PM in Pakistan for talks | British PM in Pakistan for talks |
(about 11 hours later) | |
UK Prime Minister Tony Blair is to hold talks with Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf in Islamabad later on Sunday. | |
The pair are expected to focus on working together on counter-terrorism and security in Afghanistan, where UK troops face Taleban-led militants. | |
In addition, Mr Blair will pledge to double UK development aid for Pakistan to £480m ($960m), UK officials said. | |
His visit comes shortly after Pakistani authorities freed a British man who had spent 18 years on death row. | |
The UK development aid will be used over three years to support Gen Musharraf's educational reforms, which aim to counter the influence of Islamic religious schools, or madrassas, seen as a breeding ground for militancy. | |
"It is not just designed to counter radicalism but also to train people in the skills which allow the Pakistan economy to develop," Mr Blair's spokesman told reporters. | "It is not just designed to counter radicalism but also to train people in the skills which allow the Pakistan economy to develop," Mr Blair's spokesman told reporters. |
There will also be a counter-terrorism package of technical assistance, worth some £8m ($15m), UK officials said. | There will also be a counter-terrorism package of technical assistance, worth some £8m ($15m), UK officials said. |
Pakistan's co-operation in cracking down on cross-border infiltration by Taleban militants is seen as critically important for the success of US and Nato military operations in Afghanistan. | Pakistan's co-operation in cracking down on cross-border infiltration by Taleban militants is seen as critically important for the success of US and Nato military operations in Afghanistan. |
On his third visit to Pakistan, Mr Blair is also expected to meet Islamic chiefs to discuss inter-faith harmony. | On his third visit to Pakistan, Mr Blair is also expected to meet Islamic chiefs to discuss inter-faith harmony. |
'Important ally' | 'Important ally' |
The BBC's Jonathan Marcus says Pakistan is the contradiction that stands at the heart of the so-called "war on terror". | |
Mr Blair has previously publicly voiced support for Gen Musharraf | |
In the wake of the 9/11 attacks in New York and Washington, Gen Musharraf opted to stand alongside the US. | In the wake of the 9/11 attacks in New York and Washington, Gen Musharraf opted to stand alongside the US. |
Pakistan became, because of its location and local knowledge, one of America's most important allies in the war on terror. | Pakistan became, because of its location and local knowledge, one of America's most important allies in the war on terror. |
Mr Blair has publicly voiced support for Gen Musharraf. However, British commanders and Western experts say Pakistan needs to do more to hamper the Taleban's revival. | Mr Blair has publicly voiced support for Gen Musharraf. However, British commanders and Western experts say Pakistan needs to do more to hamper the Taleban's revival. |
There is a sense that the country is fast approaching a tipping point. Nato forces are stretched and their effectiveness is being eroded by restrictions placed by some member governments on their use, our correspondent says. | There is a sense that the country is fast approaching a tipping point. Nato forces are stretched and their effectiveness is being eroded by restrictions placed by some member governments on their use, our correspondent says. |
Military measures alone cannot resolve Afghanistan's problems. Diplomacy too has an important part to play and here Pakistan's role is essential, he adds. | Military measures alone cannot resolve Afghanistan's problems. Diplomacy too has an important part to play and here Pakistan's role is essential, he adds. |
Human rights record | Human rights record |
British officials have also praised Pakistan for providing intelligence that helped to thwart terrorist attacks in the UK. | |
Mr Blair personally asked for clemency for Mirza Tahir HussainBut the US-based group Human Rights Watch said Mr Blair must urge his hosts to end torture and "enforced disappearances" of terror suspects. | |
The one-day talks follow the release of Briton, Mirza Tahir Hussain. Mr Blair had personally asked the president to show clemency to the death row prisoner. | The one-day talks follow the release of Briton, Mirza Tahir Hussain. Mr Blair had personally asked the president to show clemency to the death row prisoner. |
On Wednesday, Gen Musharraf ordered Mr Hussain's death sentence to be commuted to life in jail, and on Thursday he was released from a high-security prison in Rawalpindi, near the capital, Islamabad. Mr Hussain is now back in Britain. | On Wednesday, Gen Musharraf ordered Mr Hussain's death sentence to be commuted to life in jail, and on Thursday he was released from a high-security prison in Rawalpindi, near the capital, Islamabad. Mr Hussain is now back in Britain. |
Mr Blair's visit also follows Gen Musharraf's trip to Britain in September, and a tour of Pakistan last month by Prince Charles and his wife Camilla. | Mr Blair's visit also follows Gen Musharraf's trip to Britain in September, and a tour of Pakistan last month by Prince Charles and his wife Camilla. |