Pakistan needs support 'more than ever,' says EU

Spokesman for EU foreign affairs says Pakistan needs support in its effort to combat terrorism and bolster democracy.

BRUSSELS: Pakistan "more than ever" needs support in its efforts to combat terrorism and bolster democracy following the killing of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, the European Union said Thursday.

While the US operation on Pakistani soil "has raised questions" on the role of the country's army and intelligence services, "there can be no doubt that we will have to rely on Pakistan's full cooperation as a partner," said a spokesman for EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton.

"More than ever we need to underpin the democratic elected government of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani," said spokesman Michael Mann.

But he cautioned that the death of the terrorist mastermind "underlines the need for a broad and reinforced engagement of Pakistan generally, but also on security-related issues such as counter terrorism and human rights."

Islamabad has rejected suggestions of collusion with extremists, with Gilani saying that the United States and other countries shared the blame for not finding Bin Laden sooner.

The EU has been fighting for months to push through a controversial plan to offer Pakistan trade concessions as relief for its 2010 flood devastation.

Prompted by Britain, leaders of the 27-nation bloc have approved a scheme to offer two years of trade concessions to Pakistan -- essentially on textiles -- to ease its recovery from the floods, but need a waiver from the WTO in Geneva to kickstart the aid.

India however has expressed concerns over the plan at the 153-nation Geneva-based World Trade Organization, while Peru and Brazil too have called for consultations, meaning the waiver remains in doubt.

European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso has said targeted market access to the EU for Pakistan would bolster the country.

"The stability of Pakistan is in everyone's interest," he said.