Britain special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan visits Islamabad

Islamabad: The UK’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Mark Sedwill, arrived in Pakistan today (Thursday 26 May) on his first visit to Pakistan since taking up his position.

Today, Mr Sedwill met Foreign Secretary, Salman Bashir, the Secretary General to the President His Excellency Salman Farooqi, and representatives of the Pakistan military.

Mr Sedwill said:

“Pakistan is the first country that I have visited since being appointed by the Prime Minister as the UK’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan. I have come to follow up the Prime Minister’s recent exchanges with Prime Minister Gilani: to identify ways to take forward our strategic partnership to support Pakistan’s long term future and its fight against terrorism and to discuss the opportunities for working together to secure our shared interests of peace and stability in Afghanistan. As Prime Minister Cameron stated yesterday ‘In this vital effort [against international terrorism], we must continue to work with Pakistan. People are asking questions about our relationship, so we need to be clear: Pakistan has suffered more from terrorism than any other country in the world. Their enemy is our enemy. So far from walking away, we’ve got to work even more closely with them.”

For more information, contact:
George Sherriff
Press Attaché
British High Commission
Islamabad
Tel: +9251 201 2000
Website: http://ukinpakistan.fco.gov.uk