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Blair to allay Musharraf concerns | Blair to allay Musharraf concerns |
(30 minutes later) | |
A leaked paper criticising Pakistan's intelligence service does not reflect his government's view, Tony Blair is expected to tell the country's leader. | |
A researcher at the Ministry of Defence claimed that Pakistan's intelligence service, ISI, had indirectly helped the Taleban and al-Qaeda. | A researcher at the Ministry of Defence claimed that Pakistan's intelligence service, ISI, had indirectly helped the Taleban and al-Qaeda. |
President Pervez Musharraf responded angrily and Mr Blair is to try to allay his concerns in talks at Chequers. | President Pervez Musharraf responded angrily and Mr Blair is to try to allay his concerns in talks at Chequers. |
Gen Musharraf said Pakistan was doing an "excellent job" tracking militants. | Gen Musharraf said Pakistan was doing an "excellent job" tracking militants. |
And an MoD spokesman said "the academic research notes quoted in no way represent the views of either the MoD or the government". | And an MoD spokesman said "the academic research notes quoted in no way represent the views of either the MoD or the government". |
ISI is a disciplined force, breaking the back of al-Qaeda President Musharraf Key document quotes Spy service defended | ISI is a disciplined force, breaking the back of al-Qaeda President Musharraf Key document quotes Spy service defended |
British defence officials have said the paper was written by a junior official, that it was unfinished and had not been seen by anyone who actually makes government policy. | British defence officials have said the paper was written by a junior official, that it was unfinished and had not been seen by anyone who actually makes government policy. |
And senior intelligence sources told BBC defence and security correspondent Rob Watson that, while the relationship with the ISI is not perfect, co-operation has improved beyond all recognition since 9/11 and the attacks in London last year. | And senior intelligence sources told BBC defence and security correspondent Rob Watson that, while the relationship with the ISI is not perfect, co-operation has improved beyond all recognition since 9/11 and the attacks in London last year. |
Labour MP Khalid Mahmood, said radical Islamic groups existed all over the world, including in the UK, where extremists last year killed 52 people in suicide bomb attacks on 7 July. | Labour MP Khalid Mahmood, said radical Islamic groups existed all over the world, including in the UK, where extremists last year killed 52 people in suicide bomb attacks on 7 July. |
"I don't think they just exist in Pakistan, I think if you look at the people that have been going on in 7/7, radicalised in the UK, this is not one organisation that is based in just one part of the world. | "I don't think they just exist in Pakistan, I think if you look at the people that have been going on in 7/7, radicalised in the UK, this is not one organisation that is based in just one part of the world. |
"Whether you go to Indonesia, whether you go to Europe, whether you go to the US, you'll find pockets of these people that have set up. | "Whether you go to Indonesia, whether you go to Europe, whether you go to the US, you'll find pockets of these people that have set up. |
"I think what we've got to do is to tackle that head on, rather than finger pointing at one individual country or one individual place." | "I think what we've got to do is to tackle that head on, rather than finger pointing at one individual country or one individual place." |
'Recruiting sergeant' | 'Recruiting sergeant' |
The document, leaked to the BBC, said Pakistan's intelligence service, the ISI, should be dismantled. | The document, leaked to the BBC, said Pakistan's intelligence service, the ISI, should be dismantled. |
It also said the UK went into Afghanistan "with its eyes closed", and revealed that a secret deal to extricate UK troops from Iraq so they could focus on Afghanistan failed when British military leaders were overruled. | It also said the UK went into Afghanistan "with its eyes closed", and revealed that a secret deal to extricate UK troops from Iraq so they could focus on Afghanistan failed when British military leaders were overruled. |
The paper also said that the Iraq war had "acted as a recruiting sergeant for extremists across the Muslim world". | The paper also said that the Iraq war had "acted as a recruiting sergeant for extremists across the Muslim world". |
HAVE YOUR SAY Pakistan has put all its efforts towards the eradication of terrorism Maryam Shahbaz, Sialkot, Pakistan Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY Pakistan has put all its efforts towards the eradication of terrorism Maryam Shahbaz, Sialkot, Pakistan Send us your comments |
Gen Musharraf, who will meet Tony Blair at Chequers on Thursday, told the BBC's Newsnight he was "fully satisfied" with Pakistan's co-operation in the fight against terrorism. | Gen Musharraf, who will meet Tony Blair at Chequers on Thursday, told the BBC's Newsnight he was "fully satisfied" with Pakistan's co-operation in the fight against terrorism. |
"There is perfect co-ordination going on - intelligence and operational co-ordination at the strategic level, at the tactical level," he said. | "There is perfect co-ordination going on - intelligence and operational co-ordination at the strategic level, at the tactical level," he said. |
And he rejected the suggestion in the report that the ISI should be dismantled. | And he rejected the suggestion in the report that the ISI should be dismantled. |