SIR MARK LYALL GRANT STATEMENT TO THE PEOPLE OF PAKISTAN

I would like to congratulate the people of Pakistan on your 62nd Independence Day. Sixty-two years on from independence, the UK and Pakistan continue to work hard to build on the strong relationship between our governments, our people and our institutions. The visits in the last year from our Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary, the International Development Secretary, the Defence Secretary, the Home Secretary, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, the Secretary of State for Justice and the Leader and members of the Opposition all underscore the broad range of UK objectives in Pakistan: to fight poverty; promote good governance, strengthen democratic institutions, take forward electoral, judicial and legislative reform as well as combat violent extremism and terrorism. I myself have been here three times in my capacity as Director General for Political Affairs.
On this visit in particular I was here to demonstrate Prime Minister Gordon Brown's commitment to the Strategic Dialogue between the UK and Pakistan, and to follow up the Foreign Secretary's visit to Pakistan in July. I was not here, as some newspaper and TV channels alleged, to meddle in issues around former President Musharraf's future. That is a matter for the political leadership of Pakistan to decide.
We agree with your Government that the single biggest factor holding Pakistan back and threatening the freedom, security and prosperity of its people is violent extremism. We are committed to working together with all sections of Pakistan's society to overcome threats from militancy, terrorism and extremism. Helping to build a stable, prosperous and democratic Pakistan is vital to all our interests. We understand the importance of addressing the causes of violent extremism and increasing the focus on education, growth and governance as demonstrated by the expansion of our development programme to $1bn over the next four years.
The UK is committed to supporting Pakistan's ongoing democratic transition and action against militancy in your country. I was struck by the depth of commitment shown by those political leaders I met on this visit, but also by the people of Pakistan whom I have met over the years as High Commissioner and as Political Director to bring prosperity and peace to your country.
I sincerely wish this great country very many congratulations on your Independence Day when 62 years ago you became a nation in your own right. My personal history as well as that of the UK and Pakistan will remain, I hope, permanently intertwined.

Sir Mark Lyall Grant, KCMG, is Director General for Political Affairs in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, London. He has been appointed to succeed Sir John Sawers as the UK Permanent Representative at the United Nations in New York.