G8 praises Pakistan's anti-Taliban offensive (1st Lead)

Jun 27, 2009, 9:28 GMT

Trieste, Italy - The foreign ministers of the world's eight leading industrialized nations praised Pakistan's domestic war against Taliban-linked militants at a summit in the Italian city of Trieste on Saturday.

'The G8 supports Pakistan's decisive action against violent extremism and militancy and acknowledge Pakistan's ongoing counter- terrorism efforts,' a joint statement, approved after a meeting with the foreign ministers of Afghanistan and Pakistan, said.

Over 2 million civilians have fled fighting between government and militant forces in Pakistan's restive north-west provinces on the Afghan border since the spring.

The G8 'commits to working closely with the United Nations and humanitarian agencies to help provide assistance to those affected,' the statement added.

The statement came after talks between G8 foreign ministers and their counterparts from Afghanistan, Pakistan and neighbouring countries including India and China which opened on Friday and were set to conclude on Saturday.

It came as participants in a separate document urged the Afghan government to make sure that presidential elections scheduled for August are fair and open to all candidates.

Ministers 'emphasized the need for the Presidential decree on non- interference of state institutions to be scrupulously applied such that the equal rights of all candidates to participate fully in the process are not impeded,' the statement said.

At the same time, the group 'affirmed the impartiality of its members regarding the outcome of the elections, and stressed its utmost commitment to the credibility and transparency of the process.'

G8 members are eager to stabilize Afghanistan and Pakistan, where local and international forces are locked in an increasingly bloody battle against Taliban-linked militants.

Diplomats say that Afghanistan's election will be a crucial part of that fight, arguing that a free and transparent vote will help convince Afghan citizens that they have a stake in their country's government.

'Only credible, secure, and inclusive elections can produce legitimate leadership for the country,' the joint statement pointed out.

The European Union is to send a team of observers to the poll. The statement 'encouraged other groups, national and international, to also observe the election process.'

The meeting of the G8 - Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States - opened on Thursday and was set to close on Saturday.

The meeting also involved officials from China, India, Afghanistan, Pakistan and international organizations such as the EU and the United Nations.