UK favours talks with militants

LONDON - The British government supported Pakistan's talks with militants in tribal areas and would continue to provide technical assistance to Islamabad in this regard, said British Foreign Office spokeswoman Natasha Khan on Monday. Talking exclusively to The Nation, Nawa-i-Waqt and Waqt TV, Natasha Khan said there was no evidence yet on the ground to suggest that the Nato forces based in Afghanistan could carry out attack on Pakistan's soil. The military alliance was struggling for regional stability and had no intention to commit any aggression, she stated. According to her, UK wants that no 9/11-like attack is carried out from Pakistan's soil and that's why London desires the continuation of peace process so as to avert recurrence of any such incident. The British government along with Pakistan was ready to meet all the challenges, including that of terrorism, she added. She said her government desired that the atmosphere of terror and fear should end and the incidents of terrorism were checked. All important matters, including regional security, were taken up at the meeting between JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and British High Commissioner in Islamabad Robert Brinkley, she said. Natasha Khan said her country wished stability in the region and did not favour any aggression there.

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