The origin of a significant amount of the terrorism the world faces links back to Pakistan, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said on Sunday. While addressing a press conference after emerging from marathon talks with NWFP Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti, and NWFP Governor Owais Ahmed Ghani, Miliband underlined the need to address the core issue of security in border areas between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Talks with militants: However, he voiced support for reconciliation with those militants who are willing to renounce terrorism. “Our [the British] position is very clear: we should negotiate with those who are willing to negotiate and we should reconcile with those who are willing to reconcile,” he said. His comments come on the heels of the provincial government’s secret talks with militant leaders.
Miliband said Britain did not reconcile with those Irish Republican Army members who refused to renounce terror. “Those who are willing to renounce terrorism, I think, it is important to reconcile with them,” he added. “Reconciliation designed to marginalise those who are using extremist means for ideological reasons seems to be the correct approach and deserves strong support.” Official sources said the chief minister discussed efforts to engage militants in Swat and the Tribal Areas with the British foreign secretary. “The provincial government emphasised the need to engage the militants to find a negotiated settlement which can be more lasting,” the officials who attended the talks told Daily Times.
Miliband appeared satisfied that negotiated settlements regarding the militancy problem would be lasting.
“Non-negotiated settlements are not really settlements. They are just a pause in fighting,” the British foreign secretary, who paid his maiden brief visit to Peshawar, told journalists. The British foreign secretary also arranged to meet relatives of local victims of terrorism. “Terrorism is a problem for Pakistanis,” he said.
Independent judiciary: He reiterated the British governmentÂ’s support for an independent judiciary and strong democratic institutions in Pakistan.