- Middle East Minister uses a visit
to Islamabad to thank Pakistan for their leadership in
brokering the US-Iran peace deal.
- Visit underlines longstanding UK support for stability in the
Middle East and for Pakistan's mediation role.
- Minister bolsters joint UK-Pakistan efforts to tackle illegal
immigration into the UK with additional funding to
target underlying drivers which entice people to illegally travel
to the UK.
The UK has welcomed the news of a peace deal between the US
and Iran, following intense negotiations brokered by partners
including Pakistan.
On the first day of his visit to Islamabad, Minister
for the Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan, , personally thanked
Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign
Minister, Ishaq Dar, for Pakistan's role in reaching
this significant moment.
He reiterated the UK's steadfast support for stability in the
Middle East, and made clear the UK would continue to do all it
could to work with partners such as Pakistan to shore
up this opportunity for a lasting peace.
During his meetings with senior Pakistani leadership, the
Minister also committed an additional £8 million to
support joint UKPakistan efforts to tackle crime and illegal
migration. The funding will be used to strengthen border and
visa systems and bring in expertise to help Pakistani
law enforcement disrupt peoplesmuggling and trafficking networks.
It will also support the return of individuals with no right to
remain in the UK and fund communitybased programmes in highrisk
areas to address the root causes of illegal migration. This
includes support for improving identity and informationsharing
processes, strengthening law enforcement capability to
investigate smuggling networks, and expanding communitybased
prevention programmes that reduce vulnerability to
exploitation.
Minister for the Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan,
, said:
The news of a US-Iran deal is a hugely
significant moment and I am pleased to convey my
personal thanks, and that of the UK, to Pakistan during my
visit here in Islamabad. Pakistan has played a critical role
in brokering this opportunity for regional stability and we stand
ready to work together to support a path to lasting peace.
The UK-Pakistan partnership is critical for safeguarding global,
regional and UK national security working closely together to
tackle terrorist threats, visa fraud and serious
organised crime.
We are taking this partnership and our co-operation to a new
level, with additional funding to deter illegal migration
and target drivers from the source.
We remain grateful for the role Pakistan has played
in facilitating negotiations. The UK and our
partners will continue to work together to see the full
reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
On his second visit to the country as an FCDO Minister, the
Minister will also witness a live demonstration of
joint work by law enforcement to tackle illegal
migration. Backed by UK support, this work sees Pakistani
authorities intercept non-genuine visa holders at
Pakistani airports, ensuring only eligible travellers
and students travel to the UK.
This visit will follow meetings between Minister Falconer
and Pakistan's Ministry of Interior and the Higher Education
Commission to discuss closer practical collaboration to deter
visa abuse.
Deepening the UK-Pakistan partnership is critical for ensuring UK
and global security, with the UK providing
counter-terrorism assistance to Pakistan to train
civilians in investigating and prosecuting terrorist cases. As
part of his visit, Minister Falconer met with Pakistan's Special
Representative for Afghanistan to discuss the ongoing tensions
between Afghanistan and Pakistan, encourage a return to dialogue,
and offer UK support to tackle the terrorist threat from
Afghanistan.
The UK government is steadfast in its commitment to secure
borders and national security. Building and deepening
international partnerships is critical in delivering this.
