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Pakistan's leader in No 10 talks | Pakistan's leader in No 10 talks |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Gordon Brown and Pakistan's president Asif Ali Zardari have met in Downing Street to discuss the security situation in Afghanistan. | |
After two months of heavy casualties, the death toll of British personnel since 2001 reached 207 on Thursday. | After two months of heavy casualties, the death toll of British personnel since 2001 reached 207 on Thursday. |
A Downing Street spokesman said Mr Brown "made clear his support" for Pakistan's "intensified action" against the Taliban. | |
Tackling extremism in its border areas was a top priority for the UK, he said. | |
Strong bond | |
Mr Brown has said 75% of terrorist plots against Britain originate in parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan and has pledged a stronger relationship with Islamabad, working on counter-terrorism. | |
Speaking after Friday's meeting, a No 10 spokesman said the two leaders had "reinforced" the "strong bond" between the countries and Mr Brown had reiterated a commitment to provide £665m in support over four years for Pakistan's counter-terrorism efforts. | |
About half of the money would be spent in the troubled border regions with Afghanistan, he added, on improving governance, economic development and "when necessary" appropriate military pressure. | |
Mr Brown also pledged to provide textbooks for schoolchildren in the border areas and support 300,000 girls from poor families attending secondary school. | |
The spokesman added: "As we have said before our highest priority in Pakistan is to work with the Pakistani government to tackle the threat of violent extremism in its border areas with Afghanistan - a threat which affects both Pakistan's security and that of the UK. | |
"The Pakistan government and the Pakistan army are already taking intensified action against the Taliban and the prime minister made clear his support." |
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