UK ready to help Pakistan in civil nuclear sector
By Uzma Zafar

ISLAMABAD—United Kingdom Tuesday expressed readiness to extend cooperation to Pakistan in civil nuclear programme.
“A delegation from UK will visit Pakistan next week to discuss over these matters with the representatives of Pakistan Government to see how we can carry forward the objectives in this regard,” said British Secretary Defence John Reid.
Talking to newsmen at Chaklala airbase before his departure, John Reid said that President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Tony Blair had discussed this issue during their meeting recently held in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session.
In reply to a question, John said, besides ultimate requirement of Military to defeat terrorism there is a need to address some of the outstanding political problems like in the Middle East and the resolution on Kashmir issue to ensure lasting peace.
Appreciating role of Pakistan in fighting against terrorism and President Musharraf’s point of view to remove poverty and injustice to tackle the root causes of terrorism, the British Secretary of Defence said “we have to assist poorest nations in the world”.
He said that efforts should be made at global level to end injustice and exploitation of the poor nations and added that UK is prepared to play a role and leading G-8 countries in this regard through developing aid, trade, education for Africa and debt relief programme.
British Defence Secretary John Reid said “we have to take on terrorists, who illegitimately without any bases claim the mentor of Islam, christianity, socialism or nationalism. There is a need to tackle these terrorists through common efforts and with close partnership with Muslim Nations”.
Referring to his meeting with President General Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and Defence Minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal, during two-day stay, the British defence Secretary said he discussed bilateral issues and war on terrorism.
“We share a common interest in defeating terrorism and in many ways we have experience of being attacked by terrorists, therefore we have common interest in fighting terrorism,” John Reid said.
The British Defence Secretary said fighting terrorism, narcotics trade and establishing good and stable relationship between UK and Pakistan, besides establishing stable Afghanistan are the common interest of the two countries.
Regarding narcotics issue, he said, 90 % of the heroin on the streets of London coming from Afghanistan. British Secretary Defence said, the partnership between the two countries is strong and getting more stronger. UK is committed to further develop this partnership in every field, he said.
He said UK and Pakistan have shared values on the basis of culture, language, history and added that these values should be used for stability in the region and develop stable and sustainable Afghanistan as it is good for the region.
In reply to question about membership of Turkey in the European Union, the Defence Secretary said, “we want to see Turkey join EU as UK has been forceful advocate of Turkey’s membership to the Union”.
Later, he was seen off by Minister of Defence Rao Sikandar Iqbal and Minister of State for Defence Zahid Hamid and senior Military and Civil officers.