Defence Secretary Calls For 'Joint Approach' To Tackle Extremism

Britain's national security depends more than ever on a joint approach to tackling the forces of extremist violence on both sides of the Afghanistan and Pakistan border, the Defence Secretary said today.

John Hutton was in Islamabad today to meet with the Pakistani government and hear first hand how the country's security forces are targeting insurgent activity in its western border area.

"Both the UK and Pakistan face the threat of terrorism seeking to coerce our democratically elected governments into changing their policies by indiscriminate violence," Mr Hutton said. "Both our countries have suffered, just as India and other countries have suffered. The suffering will continue until the scourge of terrorism is dealt with at its root.

"That means embracing a strategy that deals with the threats on both sides of the Afghanistan and Pakistan border."

Mr Hutton also added that the only "comprehensive" approach to the threat of terrorism was "governance, social and economic development and respect for cultural differences".

The Defence Secretary added: "The world faces global threats - most significantly, terrorism. These global threats require global solutions. Pakistan has a leading role to play in the struggle against extremism, and the UK will remain a constant and supporting friend and partner in the face of this challenge."

During the visit, Mr Hutton met the Prime Minister Mr Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani, Defence Minister Mr Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, the Foreign Minister Mr Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi and the Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Kayani.

(JM/BMcC)