LONDON: Sartaj Aziz, Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs, who is on an official visit to UK for a review of the Enhanced Strategic Dialogue (ESD) between Pakistan and Britain met key British cabinet members on Thursday.
The ministers Aziz met included International Development Secretary Justine Greening, Home Secretary Theresa May and Defence Secretary Philip Hammond.
Secretary Greening appreciated the concrete steps taken by the present Pakistani government in the areas of tax collection and economic reforms, saying she was hopeful that the present political dispensation would be able to achieve the desired objectives.
She also stated that the DFID program in Pakistan was their most successful program and reiterated UK’s commitment to extend further assistance to help Pakistan meet its reform targets and enhance trade and investment with the country.
Home Secretary May lauded Pakistan’s new internal security policy and offered UK’s support for its timely and effective implementation.
She added that Pakistan’s stability was important for the entire South Asian region and that the UK was ready for meaningful cooperation to strengthen regional security.
Defence Secretary Hammond discussed ongoing defence cooperation between the two countries, saying he hoped for a positive outcome of the next round of the Defence Cooperation Forum (DCF) to be held in London next week.
The post-Nato withdrawal scenario in Afghanistan and its implications for the region were also discussed in detail.
Aziz appreciated the UK’s support and cooperation in diverse areas, including socio-economic development, security and counter-terrorism, and defence.
He briefed his British counterparts on the initiatives undertaken by Pakistan on economic revival, addressing the country’s energy crisis, introducing transparency and good governance and expanding the tax base.
The two sides expressed satisfaction over cooperation under the framework of the Enhanced Strategic Dialogue (ESD) and hoped that the targets set under it would be achieved within the given time frame.
Aziz is on a three-day official visit to the United Kingdom for the second Foreign Ministers’ level review of the Pakistan-UK Enhanced Strategic Dialogue (ESD). He will also participate in the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) meeting today.