ISLAMABAD: British High Commissioner in Pakistan Jean Marriott appreciated the sacrifices of the Pakistan Army in the war against terrorism and emphasized that the heavy cost of the armed forces is not only for the establishment of peace in the country but also for keeping the world safe.
The commitment of the UK Ambassador came during an exclusive interview on Saturday in which he said that Pakistan is on the frontline in the war against terrorism and is his country’s most important ally.
“My condolences go out to the families of those who sacrificed their lives in the war on terror,” Marriott said.
The envoy said that the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other terrorist organizations, including the Haqqani group, are continuing their operations in Afghan territory, which is alarming.
Taliban should take action against them. If they are not stopped from terrorist activities, they are a threat not only to Pakistan but to the entire world, as everyone saw on 9/11.
He added that the war between Ukraine and Russia was the most watched on UK TV channels but that does not mean we have forgotten Afghanistan. The eyes of the world are still focused on the problem and situation of Afghanistan. The UK is working on a negotiation process with the Taliban government in Afghanistan.
All parties in Doha participated in the talks with the Taliban. There are concerns about the humanitarian situation in half of Afghanistan, particularly the lack of rights for girls and women, for which we will continue to engage with the Taliban government.”
“We are told that the security situation in Afghanistan has improved since the arrival of the Taliban, because the Taliban used to attack Afghan security forces and people, which worsened the security situation. However, the main development is “During the Taliban era, there has been a huge reduction in the cultivation of heroin, which was destroying the lives of young people around the world. Their efforts should be recognized.”
Moreover, on the reconstruction of Ukraine, Marriott said that construction companies in Pakistan can play an important role in the reconstruction of the war-torn country and will be fully supported.
Pakistan has a large pool of skilled workers who can work there to rebuild Ukraine. Russia invaded Ukraine a year and a half ago. Everyone has seen the horrific pictures of Russia’s bombing of Ukraine and the treatment of prisoners of war. Russia is a bad country that attacked its little neighbor. The West will continue to support Ukraine as an independent country. Ukraine never thought of attacking Russia. The war started when Russia invaded Ukraine.
Also, in response to a question, Marriott said that climate change cannot be ignored.
Pakistan’s stance on climate change is very critical as evidenced by the floods. Britain has seen the Industrial Revolution, so it must work with the world to reduce the damage caused by climate change. Money is needed all over the world to tackle climate change. In this regard, the UK will fully support Pakistan in international climate financing through private investors.
The ambassador added that the current volume of trade between Pakistan and the UK is 4.4 billion pounds (Rs 1,672 billion), which is a huge amount.
“Pakistan and the UK understand each other’s needs, which makes us good trading partners,” Marriott concluded.
