19/01/2009

Defence Secretary Calls For 'Joint Approach' To Tackle Extremism

Britain's national security depends more than ever on a joint approach to tackling the forces of extremist violence on both sides of the Afghanistan and Pakistan border, the Defence Secretary said today.

John Hutton was in Islamabad today to meet with the Pakistani government and hear first hand how the country's security forces are targeting insurgent activity in its western border area.

"Both the UK and Pakistan face the threat of terrorism seeking to coerce our democratically elected governments into changing their policies by indiscriminate violence," Mr Hutton said. "Both our countries have suffered, just as India and other countries have suffered. The suffering will continue until the scourge of terrorism is dealt with at its root.

"That means embracing a strategy that deals with the threats on both sides of the Afghanistan and Pakistan border."

Mr Hutton also added that the only "comprehensive" approach to the threat of terrorism was "governance, social and economic development and respect for cultural differences".

The Defence Secretary added: "The world faces global threats - most significantly, terrorism. These global threats require global solutions. Pakistan has a leading role to play in the struggle against extremism, and the UK will remain a constant and supporting friend and partner in the face of this challenge."

During the visit, Mr Hutton met the Prime Minister Mr Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani, Defence Minister Mr Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, the Foreign Minister Mr Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi and the Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Kayani.

(JM/BMcC)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

21 April 2015
Coventry Teenagers Arrested By Counter Terrorism Unit
West Midlands Police have reported that two Coventry teenagers have been arrested on suspicion of preparing to travel to Syria to engage in terrorism. Officers from the West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit detained the two teens, both aged 17, at their homes at 6am on Tuesday morning.
10 December 2014
Man Arrested Over Police Threat
A 31-year-old man has been arrested in connection with threats made to West Midlands Police officers and staff on Tuesday. The man was detained at a property in the West Midlands by officers from the Counter Terrorism Unit, who are leading the investigation. He is currently being held in police custody.
10 December 2014
Man Arrested On Terrorism Offences
A man has been arrested in Luton on suspicion of fundraising and inciting terrorism overseas, it has been reported. The Metropolitan Police said the 35-year-old has been taken into custody in London. Searches are now being carried out at three properties; two are in east London and the third is in Luton.
04 December 2014
Five Arrested Under Terrorism Act In Cardiff And Barry
Five men have been arrested under the Terrorism Act in Cardiff and Barry. Police officers from the North East Counter Terrorism Unit and the Wales Extremism and Counter Terrorism Unit executed six search warrants on Thursday. The men have been arrested under the Section 12 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
10 June 2013
EDL Rally Bomb Plotters Jailed
Each of the six men, who admitted terrorism offences in connection with a plot to bomb an English Defence League rally, have been jailed for up to 19-and-a-half years. Omar Khan, Jewel Uddin, Mohammed Hasseen, Mohammed Saud, Zohaib Ahmed and Anzal Hussain pleaded guilty in April to a plot to attack an EDL rally in West Yorkshire.