PM 'crucible of terrorism' warning

12 April 2012

Gordon Brown called on Pakistan and Afghanistan to work together to tackle a "crucible of terrorism" threatening lives in the UK.

The Prime Minister warned that the lawless hinterland between the two countries was a "breeding ground for terrorists".

The comments came during a frenetic day in which he visited troops on the frontline in Helmand province, and held talks with Presidents Hamid Karzai in Kabul and Asif Ali Zardari in Islamabad.

Mr Brown said the UK Government would be unveiling a new strategy towards the region on Wednesday, that will focus on the self-governing northern territories in Pakistan and the mountains of south Afghanistan. Some 25-30 million people live in the zone, and the Taliban and Al Qaida operate with impunity.

"There is a crucible of terrorism in the mountainous border between Afghanistan and Pakistan," Mr Brown said.

He praised troops at the Lashkar Gar base in Helmand for their "professionalism and bravery".

"There is a chain of terrorism that goes from here round to the streets of Britain. That's why it's absolutely important that while we have made progress on Afghan elections, democratic government, six million children in education, hospitals as well as roads and infrastructure for the people of Afghanistan, that we defeat international terrorism and hold it back from here in Lashkar Gar, here in Helmand province, but also on the other side of the border in Pakistan.

"Our approach to these countries is different, but must be complementary."

The UK wants provinces to be handed over to government control one by one - in much the same way as has happened in Iraq. The strategy also calls for the Afghan army to be expanded from 75,000 to 135,000 by the end of 2011, alongside recruiting thousands more police.

Some £665 million in development aid bound for Pakistan over the next four years is being re-focused on the northern areas.

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