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British foreign secretary holds talks in north-west Pakistan

Other News Materials 20 April 2008 14:57 (UTC +04:00)

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband Sunday arrived in Pakistan's North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) to hold multi-dimensional talks with counter terrorism initiatives high on the agenda. ( dpa )

"The British foreign secretary is undertaking a two-day bilateral visit to develop acquaintance with the new political leadership and to deliberate on a whole range of issues," spokesman for Pakistan's Foreign Ministry Mohammed Sadiq said.

Miliband is also scheduled to meet President Pervez Musharraf and newly-elected Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani in the capital city Islamabad during the final leg of his trip.

In the NWFP capital Peshawar, Miliband on Sunday was meeting provincial Chief Minister Amir Haider Hoti and Governor Owais Ghani to discuss the recent change in the political scenario and its implications for the security situation.

Nationalists have formed a government in the province bordering Afghanistan after gaining an overwhelming majority in the February 18 vote, and have favoured dialogue with pro-Taliban militants in the restive region.

NWFP and its adjoining tribal districts are considered a safe haven for armed fighters who plan and carry out cross-border attacks on coalition forces and the Afghan military.

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