ISLAMABAD, 2 February 2007 — Pakistan and the United Kingdom yesterday finalized the draft of an agreement that will boost their coordination in the fight against terror. The two sides agreed to share intelligence, work together in fighting human trafficking and money laundering, extradite criminals and hold joint investigations in terror-related cases.
British and Pakistani anti-terrorism chiefs held six hours of talks in Islamabad yesterday, a day after police in Britain foiled a plan to kidnap and execute a soldier that reportedly involved plotters of Pakistani origin.
A British delegation led by William Nye, director of counterterrorism and intelligence at the Home Office, held the scheduled meeting with Pakistani counterparts to finalize a framework to enhance cooperation against terrorism and organized crime, news reports said.
Pakistan has already signed agreements with 22 countries for joint action in these areas. Yesterday’s meeting was due to produce a similar agreement with Britain.
It was also expected to address the issue of an extradition treaty and the issues related to lists of wanted criminals.
Pakistan’s cooperation with British police is said to have helped foil a plot to blow up trans-Atlantic airliners flying from London last summer.
British police on Wednesday arrested nine men in connection with another alleged plot to stage an “Iraq-style kidnap and video execution” of a serving Muslim soldier in the UK.
