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This is an archive article published on December 16, 2008

Pak8217;s future depends on its actions: Brown

In a stern message to Pak, Gordon Brown has said the country's future depends on the action it took against terrorists based on its soil.

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In a stern message to Pakistan, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said the country8217;s future depends on the action it took against terrorists based on its soil and asked Islamabad to break the 8220;chain of terror8221; and act 8220;rapidly and decisively8221; against terror networks.

Brown, who made a statement in the House of Commons last night after returning from an unscheduled whirlwind tour of India, Pakistan and Afghanistan, said Islamabad must ensure that those terrorists who operated from its soil to attack India are 8220;properly rooted out8221; and their training camps closed down.

8220;We Britain have offered our support to the democratically elected Government in Pakistan but that Government must act rapidly and decisively against terror networks based on its soil,8221; Brown said.

8220;Pakistan8217;s own future depends on its actions against those within its borders who are bent on disruption of the elected government and Pakistan8217;s relations with its neighbours.8221;

Brown said he had asked Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari to break the 8220;chain of terror8221;.

He said Britain will work with both India and Pakistan to continue to build counter-terrorism capabilities.

Brown, who offered Pakistan a USD 9 million pact to combat the menace on Sunday, said during his visit to Islamabad he was able to announce more help for bomb disposal capabilities, scanning devices, airport security, help to draw new laws and to set up counter-extremism centres.

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8220;There is a chain of terror that links the mountains of Afghanistan and Pakistan right through the streets of the UK and other countries around the world and that chain of terror must be broken,8221; the Prime Minister told the House of Commons. Answering to points raised by Opposition leader David Cameron, the Prime Minister said: 8220;As far as Pakistan is concerned, we have got to do with the existing problems in Pakistan and I support President Zardari in what he is doing and the Army Chief Gen Kiyani.

8220;I did talk to him Kiyani about his responsibilities and responsibilities of the Pakistani Army and the ISI to make sure that those terrorists who have operated from Pakistan to do damage in India are properly routed out, and their terrorists8217; training camps closed down.8221;

Brown said he believed that Gen Kiyani shares with Zardari that 8220;these things must be done8221; so that Pakistan can show to the world that it is taking necessary action8221;.

At the outset, Brown said Britain, America and the international community 8220;increasingly8221; recognise that we can not deal with Afghanistan in isolation from Pakistan.

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Referring to the terror attacks on Mumbai, Brown, who held talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi on Sunday, said: 8220;On 27th of November, the whole world learnt that terrorists based in Pakistan can strike anywhere.

8220;The murderous assault condemned by the whole world saw 12 terrorists kill 175 people in Mumbai including British Citizens. This weekend I met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Zardari to discuss actions that now has to be taken.8221;

Brown said he expressed his condolences to Singh and through him to the Indian people and assured them that the 8220;whole of Britain stands with India in its determination to see those responsible are brought to justice.8221;

The Prime Minister also paid tributes to the efforts in Pakistan to deny the Federally Administered Tribal Areas FATA as a training ground to terrorists and for insurgency in Afghanistan.

 

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