Important to stabilize Pakistan for a peaceful Afghanistan : Miliband

LONDON - British Foreign Secretary David Miliband has commended efforts of the Obama administration to re-balance the relationship between the United States and Pakistan saying it is very important to stabilize Pakistan in order to maintain peace in Afghanistan.

“We need a more stable Pakistan to get a more stable Afghanistan. That’s why I really applaud what President Obama and Secretary Clinton are doing in terms of re-balancing the US relationship with Pakistan as well,” Miliband said.

In an interview with the PBS news, Miliband stressed that military can only create space for sustainable politics and sustainable governance, and that there can not be a long term military solution for the region’s problem.

“We are not trying to create a colony in Afghanistan. We are trying to ensure that Afghan government is legitimate and, on 20th August, elected Afghan government is able to defend its own country,” The Nation quoted Miliband, as saying.

He said that it was in Britain’s interest to deploy troops in large numbers in Afghanistan.

“After all, nearly three-quarters of the terrorist plots that have been either taken place or foiled against the UK have their links into the badlands between Afghanistan and Pakistan,” added Miliband. (ANI)