LONDON: Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan met with British Prime Minister Theresa May during a meeting with National Security Adviser (NSA) Sir Mark Lyall Grant at 10 Downing Street.
Prime Minister May conveyed her good wishes to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the people of Pakistan, and said that she was looking forward to visiting Pakistan in the first half of 2017.
The Interior Minister congratulated May on the assumption of the office of the British Prime Minister and hoped that relations between the two countries would achieve higher profile during her leadership.
He further hoped that cooperation at all levels, between Pakistan and the UK, would receive a great boost and momentum after her forthcoming visit to Pakistan.
He emphasised that Prime Minister May’s visit to Pakistan is most relevant and timely in context of regional scenario prevailing in South Asia and would open new channels of bilateral cooperation and coordination.
In his meeting with NSA, Chaudhry Nisar impressed upon him the need for the international community, particularly our friends, to focus and react to the Indian intransigence in the region.
He said that India’s hegemonic stance and its aggressive posturing was a threat to peace and stability in the region. He stated that Pakistan would not be cowed down by such tactics, and reserves the right to avenge the blatant and unprovoked killing of its soldiers.
He further stressed that the world and our friends needed to do more to counter Indian designs against Pakistan, and should stop seeing South Asia through the Indian prism.
While discussing the ongoing war against terrorism, Nisar said that menace of terrorism was a threat to the region and the international peace and tranquility.
He said that people of Pakistan and its national security institutions were determined to completely wiping out terrorism from its soil.
Nisar also shared the gains made through Operation Zarb-e-Azb, and achievements made under National Action Plan (NAP), and said that overall security situation in Pakistan has improved significantly during the last three years.
Over the issue of regional situation, he informed the British NSA that “a peaceful and stable Afghanistan is in the interest of Pakistan.”
He asserted that friendly relations of Pakistan with its neighbouring countries are based on the principle of reciprocity, which is a fundamental and important element of Pakistan’s foreign policy.
While highlighting the sacrifices of the people of Pakistan and security institutions during the ongoing war against terrorism, Nisar said the people of Pakistan believe that there would be no discrimination at international level on this sensitive issue and the world must acknowledge the role Pakistan had played for global peace.
Nisar said that the government and people of Pakistan desire peace and greatly appreciate the cooperation of international community in this regard.
British NSA Sir Mark Lyall Grant in his remarks appreciated sacrifices of the people of Pakistan, who have lost their lives in the war against terrorism.
He assured that the UK would continue to provide every possible assistance for the welfare and socio-economic development of the people besides strengthening Pakistan-UK friendly ties.
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