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Pakistan and EU in 'terror' talks EU gives $100m in aid to Pakistan
(about 7 hours later)
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari is meeting Nato and European Union leaders in Brussels for talks on boosting security co-operation and trade links. The European Union (EU) will give $100m to Pakistan in new humanitarian aid to help efforts to tackle "the economic crisis and terrorism", officials say.
Speaking after a meeting at Nato's headquarters, President Zardari said: "Defeat is not an option for us." The money is aimed at helping about two million people displaced by fighting between troops and the Taliban in parts of north-west Pakistan.
The worsening security situation in Pakistan has made it a key foreign policy priority for Nato and the EU. The aid was announced at the start of summit talks between President Asif Ali Zardari and EU leaders in Brussels.
The talks come as Pakistan says it is about to launch a major assault against the Taliban along the Afghan border. The talks reflect increasing EU concern over instability in Pakistan.
On Tuesday, a US Senate committee voted in favour of trebling non-military aid to Pakistan to $7.5bn over five years. Officials say they are worried about the effect such instability could have on international efforts to end the insurgency in Afghanistan.
'Determination' Trade ties
The BBC's Dominic Hughes in Brussels says the fight against terrorism will dominate the first ever summit between the EU and Pakistan. "I welcome President Zardari's commitment to reinforce the democratic institutions, reform the economy and defeat extremism and terrorism, which pose a threat not just to his country, but to its neighbours and to the rest of the world," European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said.
Mr Zardari met Czech President Vaclav Klaus, who is chairing the summitMr Zardari met Czech President Vaclav Klaus, who is chairing the summit
Officials say the aid is meant to provide food, water and shelter to people who have fled fighting in recent months in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province.
"In exchange, we want Pakistan to take the fight against terrorism very seriously and that they do a lot on their home front," said EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner.
Correspondents say the money is in addition to more than $670m the European Commission has already pledged in long-term development aid to Pakistan over the next five years.
The EU says that it eager to develop secular and democratic governance in Pakistan in addition to strengthening trade ties.
President Zardari said trade rather than aid was his chief goal in the landmark summit.
"With the help of the world we will win this, and half the war is the hearts and minds of the people," he said.
"I'm looking for MOUs [memorandums of understanding] and not IOUs and I intend to get them," he added after talks with Nato ambassadors.
"I'm always hopeful, I'm a man who has walked from the gallows to the presidency," the president said, referring to his rise to the presidency last September after fighting off charges of corruption and murder.
Earlier, Mr Zardari told NATO officials that defeat against the Taliban was not an option for Pakistan
US aid
Correspondents say the worsening security situation in Pakistan has made it a key foreign policy priority for Nato and the EU.
On Tuesday, a US Senate committee voted in favour of trebling non-military aid to Pakistan to $7.5bn over five years.
EU counter terrorism officials have warned of the threat of attack from young Europeans radicalised and trained in Pakistan.EU counter terrorism officials have warned of the threat of attack from young Europeans radicalised and trained in Pakistan.
To combat that threat, the EU is looking at closer security co-operation but will also boost trade links as a prelude to a possible free trade agreement. The BBC's Dominic Hughes in Brussels says it is unusual for a relatively insignificant trading partner like Pakistan to be given this kind of treatment - the fact the summit is taking place at all is a sign of how bad things have got.
Europe is also set to offer more aid to help with the humanitarian crisis facing refugees fleeing fighting between Pakistani forces and the Taliban in the Swat valley and other parts of north-west Pakistan.
Our correspondent says it is unusual for a relatively insignificant trading partner like Pakistan to be given this kind of treatment - the fact the summit is taking place at all is a sign of how bad things have got.
Speaking after a meeting at Nato's headquarters, President Zardari said the army was determined to win the war against the Taliban.
"The war has just started so I can't tell you how it's going. I can tell you that my determination to fight is there, my army's determination to fight is there, my people's determination to fight is there."
He spoke of a "constructive dialogue" with Nato and said Pakistan would work in close partnership with the alliance.
Taleban 'digging in'
In Pakistan itself preparations are continuing for what the authorities have called a full-fledged military operation against the leader of the Pakistan Taliban, Baitullah Mehsud.In Pakistan itself preparations are continuing for what the authorities have called a full-fledged military operation against the leader of the Pakistan Taliban, Baitullah Mehsud.
FROM BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World Service
His network of fighters has accepted responsibility for - or been blamed for - many suicide bombings in Pakistan.His network of fighters has accepted responsibility for - or been blamed for - many suicide bombings in Pakistan.
But military experts in Pakistan agree that defeating the Taliban in their main sanctuary in the rugged and mountainous tribal area of South Waziristan is likely to be a far tougher challenge than the offensive seen over the past seven weeks in and around Swat.
Tribal elders in the region are quoted as saying the Taliban are digging tunnels in the mountains to protect themselves against bombing.
And, with two million people already displaced by the earlier offensive, more civilians are reported to be on the move out of South Waziristan ahead of the new operation.
"The total figure of internally displaced persons is likely to rise as military operations extend into other areas," aid group Oxfam said in a statement.