Pakistan, UK agree to enhance anti-terror cooperation: interior ministry

British government pledges to cooperate with Pakistan in its fight against militancy

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the United Kingdom agreed on Tuesday to enhance intelligence-based cooperation to fight terrorist groups, such as al Qaeda and other militant groups.

A new mechanism is being developed by both sides whereby, intelligence based cooperation will be enhanced to fight terrorism by improving the capacity of their institutions dealing with national and international security.

The development took place after a meeting between British Minister at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Tobias Martin Ellwood and Interior Minister Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan.

"The British government pledged that London would continue to cooperate with Pakistan in its fight against militancy," read an official statement issued by the Interior Ministry.

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Ellwood, who is dealing with counter-terrorism and international security affairs in the UK, was accompanied by British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Philip Barton; both whom shared updates and progress on the Imran Farooq murder case.

Further, Pakistan informed British officials that its government was in contact with Afghan officials to trace the main accused in the case.

The National Action Plan (NAP) also came under discussion during the meeting between the two sides, where the officials were briefed on the progress of the NAP and its implementation in certain parts of the country.

Read: Bilateral ties: Britain pledges support in fight against militancy

"Interior minister also called upon international community to find a solution on how to eradicate terrorism rather than assuming the Muslim brotherhood a source of terror," the official statement said.

Both sides also discussed issues pertaining to the Baloch seeking asylum and speeches made by Muttahida Qaumi Movement Chief Altaf Hussain, it was revealed.

Earlier this year, Britain pledged its support to Pakistan for its fight against militancy, saying that it was standing ‘shoulder-to-shoulder’ with Pakistan in the fight against terrorism.