‘Al Qaeda operating from tribal region’: Links with extremists in UK
PESHAWAR, May 10: A senior British diplomat on Thursday said that Al Qaeda leaders continued to hide in and operate from Pakistan’s tribal areas. “We do have concerns that some Al Qaeda leaders are still able to hide in and operate from areas along the border,” British High Commissioner to Pakistan Robert Brinkley said at the “Guest Hour” programme of the Peshawar Press Club.
He said there was “great concern” that extremists in Britain were in contact with terrorist leaders in the border area, “from where they get guidance, ideas and in some cases training for (terrorist) operations”.
He said that Britain had better understanding of how extremists in Britain got in touch with terrorist leaders in the tribal region and received guidance and training since the 7/7 bombing and the failed plot to blow up transatlantic flights.
“This is of huge concerns to us. Our top priority is to ensure that it does not happen again,” Mr Brinkley said, adding that Britain was in touch with Pakistan to find and detain terrorists operating from this part of the world.
He lauded Pakistan’s efforts to hunt down and detain terrorists. “There has been some success, but the fight is not yet over.”
Asked whether Britain was asking Pakistan to do more on this front, the British diplomat remarked: “We all can do more.”
EXTRADITION TREATY: The high commissioner said Pakistan and Britain were in discussion to reach an agreement on the extradition treaty. However, he acknowledged that death penalty in Pakistan was the main problem.
He said that while Britain opposed capital punishment, Pakistan continued to be one of the countries with the highest number of people on death row.
He was replying to a question whether Pakistan was seeking extradition of some Baloch nationalists in return for Rashid Rauf who was suspected in the plot to blow up transatlantic flights.
He said that each case of extradition would have to be considered on merit and in accordance with the law and insisted that Britain would have to be assured that those who were extradited to Pakistan would not be awarded capital punishment.
The high commissioner said both the countries needed to work together to counter extremism. “Your government is helping us and we want to continue this cooperation.”
He said Britain had doubled its assistance to Pakistan as part of a long-term commitment.
He said that his country was committed to helping restore peace in Afghanistan. “Taliban are trying to destroy what is achieved, and challenge to develop Afghanistan is enormous,” the British diplomat added.
Mr Brinkley, however, said that military means alone were not the answer to the problems in Afghanistan and underlined the need for a comprehensive approach which addressed political, development and security issues.
“Much has been done and much is needed to be done,” he said while appreciating efforts initiated by Pakistan and Afghanistan to convene a jirga to end violence in the war-ravaged country.
CLASH OF CIVILISATION: The British diplomat rejected the theory of the clash of civilisation or the impression that the Muslims and terrorism is interlinked.
“Britain has 30 years of such experience with the Irish movement which had nothing to do with the Muslims. So the Muslims and terrorists don’t go together. There is much more in us which unites us and that is hope for peace,” Mr Brinkley said.