Spain, Pakistan pledge joint fight against terrorism

Pakistan and Spain expressed their joint commitment to fight terrorism as they signed a broad bilateral agreement Wednesday aimed at enhancing cooperation on security, trade and other issues. The deal came during a meeting between Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani, who is on the highest level visit to Spain since then-president Pervez Musharraf in 2007. "The commitment by both governments in the fight against terrorism is a commitment to collaborate," Zapatero, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the EU, told a joint news conference after the talks. "I am very grateful to Pakistan and thank you for the efforts you have made to fight against radicalism and terrorism in the region... I would like you to know that you can count on Spain for the stability of Pakistan." Gilani noted that Spain and Pakistan "have both been victims of terrorism, and both countries are cooperating to root out this menace." Pakistan, which borders war-torn Afghanistan, has suffered from increasing attacks by Islamist radicals in recent years as it fights a home-grown Taliban insurgency.

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