British envoy praises Pakistan's emerging role in South Asia

Nov 26, 2008, 9:56 GMT

Islamabad - Britain's foreign secretary said on Wednesday Pakistan is emerging as 'cooperative force' in South Asia through its efforts to improve relations with neighbours.

'The foreign policy dialogue that is being pursued with Afghanistan, with India' is turning Pakistan outwards and making clear that the country is emerging as a cooperative force for stability in the region,' David Miliband said after meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mamhood Qureshi.

Pakistan and Afghanistan have squabbled over the past seven years, with the government of Hamid Karzai demanding Islamabad do more to eliminate sanctuaries of Taliban and al-Qaeda militants launching cross-border attacks into Afghanistan.

But relations between two Islamic neighbours have eased since the new civilian government of President Asif Ali Zardari took over early this year and adopted a hardline policy toward insurgents.

Government forces are currently conducting major offensives in two districts of tribal regions that border Afghanistan.

Miliband urged Karzai's government to further enhance cooperation with Pakistan.

'They (Afghans) certainly need and depend on very close collaboration and cooperation with Pakistani partners on a whole range of economic as well as security issues,' he said.

Pakistan has also improved relations with neighbour and arch-rival India in recent years.

The two nuclear-armed South Asian countries have fought three wars since their independence from British rule in 1947 over the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir and came on the verge of a third in 2002.

They began a peace dialogue in 2004 and have launched several confidence building measures, including enhancing bilateral trade from 345 million dollars to 2.2 billion dollars this year

Zardari, speaking via satellite to a conference in Delhi over the weekend, said Pakistan will not be the first to use nuclear weapons. He also proposed a passport-free passage of citizens between the two countries.

Qureshi was expected to leave for New Delhi later in the day to review peace talks with his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee.

Miliband arrived from Kabul late Tuesday and met separately with Pakistan's Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, Army Chief General Ishfaq Parvez Kyani and opposition leader Nawaz Sharif.