Pakistan president in London talks on terrorism, economy

Jul 1, 2011, 18:58 GMT

London - Britain and Pakistan Friday pledged to step up their cooperation in the fight against global terrorism following the killing of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden two months ago, a government spokesman in London said.

At a meeting in Downing Street between Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari and David Cameron, the British prime minister had urged Pakistan to play a 'constructive role' in the fight against al-Qaeda-inspired terrorism in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

There was now an opportunity to 'move decisively' against the terror network and to encourage members of the Taliban in Afghanistan to turn away from al-Qaeda, renounce violence and take part in peaceful and constitutional politics, Cameron said.

The meeting between the two leaders was the first since bin Laden was killed by US special forces in Pakistan in early May, and since the announcement by the US of large-scale troop withdrawals from Afghanistan.

The two agreed that terrorism was a global phenomenon which should be tackled 'by intensifying co-operation at all levels,' said Cameron's spokesman.

'No country has suffered more from terrorism than Pakistan. Working together to defeat terrorism in all its forms is very much top of our agenda,' the spokesman quoted Cameron as saying.

Bilateral ties including the economy and increased cooperation on issues such as health and cultural affairs were also discussed, a spokesman for Zardari said.

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