Pakistan’s anti-terror efforts should not be ignored: Nawaz

The PML-N chief meets David Miliband, who is on a visit to ‘bridge gaps’.


Express May 22, 2011

LAHORE:


The international community should not ignore Pakistan’s tremendous sacrifices in combating militancy and terrorism and appreciate the country’s efforts in this regard, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif said during a meeting with former British foreign secretary David Milliband on Saturday.


The dignitary met with Sharif at his Raiwind residence after holding a series of meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari and other politicians on Friday.

The sources told The Express Tribune that Miliband is in Pakistan to bridge the increasing gap in relations between Pakistan and the West, particularly the United States.

They said that Miliband had personal contacts with the Sharifs family and is said to have performed a significant role during the Musharraf’s regime and the lawyers’ movement for the restoration of the deposed judiciary.

They said that Miliband had been sent by the UK’s Cameron government on the request of the US to bring down the political temperature in Pakistan and try to remove differences between Pakistan and the US.

They said that Miliband had delivered a special message of British Prime Minister, David Cameron, to the government about how Britain could perform its role to normalise Pakistan’s relations with the West.

According to a PML-N press release, Nawaz Sharif emphasised his personal and his party’s consistent opposition to all acts of militancy and extremism. It said that it was, however, important to understand the complex geopolitical, social and economic factors which contributed to a culture of violence, not only in Pakistan, but all over the world.

Miliband acknowledged the critical role played by Pakistan in the struggle against militancy and terrorism.

He stressed that the international community needed to do more to assist Pakistan in these difficult times.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 22nd, 2011.

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