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Australian FM Stephen Smith arrives in Islamabad for official visit to Pakistan

Australian Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith has arrived on a three-day visit to Islamabad February 16-18. Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith has arrived in Islamabad on Monday 16 Feb for three day official visit to Pakistan. Before departures for Islamabad Australian FM talk to media and said that I will visit Pakistan from Monday 16 to Wednesday 18 February. This is the first visit by an Australian Foreign Minister to Pakistan since 1998.

Australia and Pakistan enjoy a long standing friendly relationship, underpinned by agricultural and trade ties, an expanding development cooperation partnership and growing people-to-people links, including 5000 Pakistani students studying in Australia. Both Australia and Pakistan believe that our bilateral relationship can be enhanced and extended. While in Islamabad I will meet Pakistan's President, Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Chief of Army Staff General Kayani.

I will reinforce in these meetings that Australia will help Pakistan tackle the security, economic and social challenges it faces. At the United Nations in September last year, I emphasised Australia's commitment to a democratic Pakistan at the inaugural Friends of a Democratic Pakistan Ministerial meeting. The Friends group includes the United Kingdom, United States, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Turkey. Australia recognises that Pakistan is one of the world's most strategically important states. Pakistan is also critical to a long-term solution in Afghanistan where nearly 1100 Australian troops are deployed. The problem of terrorism and extremism in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border area has major regional and international security implications. Australia, as a friend of Pakistan, stands with the democratically elected Government of Pakistan in the fight against terrorism and extremism. Australia will assist Pakistan as it deals with this challenge.
I will also discuss the steps Pakistan is taking to bring the perpetrators of the Mumbai terrorist attacks to justice. Australia also stands ready to assist Pakistan with its pressing economic and social challenges.

Exclusive Interview of Aust FM in- AM Program

Subject: Visit to Pakistan

EASTLEY: Frank admissions by Pakistan's President about the influence of the Taliban in his country have caused diplomatic shock waves, just as Australia's relationship with Pakistan is being put on a new footing.

Australia wants to upgrade its relationship, and part of the plan goes into effect today, as the Foreign Minister makes his way to Islamabad to hold talks with the President, the Army Chief, and Foreign Minister.

Terrorism will be a key point of discussion, as well as Australia's military commitment to Afghanistan. Just yesterday, President Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan declared that the Taliban is now established across much of his country.

It's the first visit to Pakistan by an Australian Foreign Minister in more than a decade, and it's taken on new importance. Already Australia will significantly increase its aid to Pakistan. Before boarding his plane, Stephen Smith spoke to Alexandra Kirk.

KIRK: Some time ago the Defence Minister, Joel Fitzgibbon, suggested Australia help Pakistan suppress Islamic terrorists along the border with Afghanistan, by offering Australian counter-insurgency expertise. Did anything come of that?

SMITH: Well certainly we've been in discussions, the two chiefs of the armed forces will meet in the first half of this year, and we're looking, for example, at the potential of a four-fold increase in the number of Pakistani armed forces personnel to whom we provide training. Because the presence of the Taliban in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border area, of course has very severe implications for our troops in Afghanistan, and also for the general Afghanistan effort.

There's no doubt in my mind that Pakistan now understands that this terrorist threat, this extremist threat, is a threat to its own existence as well, not just having implications for Afghanistan, and as President Zardari has said over the weekend, they are looking at Pakistan's survival, not just the survival of neighbouring countries.

So I think Pakistan understands too well, that when you look at the last 12 months, the assassination of Mrs Bhutto, the terrible attack in Mumbai in India, the attack upon the hotel in Pakistan itself, these are terrible terrorist attacks, and that terrorist element has to be brought to justice, and essentially, brought under control, and I'll be making that point very strongly to the Pakistani officials that I meet with.

KIRK: In your view, is Pakistan doing enough though?

SMITH: The response effectively in the last couple of days to hand over its first information dossier formally to the Indians, I welcome, but we think there's more that Pakistan has to do.

KIRK: US President Obama, has just issued a stern warning to Pakistan, that it can't be allowed to allow safe havens in the border areas for al-Qaeda and the Taliban. Is that what you'll be saying to the Pakistani Government?

SMITH: Yes, I'll be making the point that we need to bring the presence of the Taliban, and other extremist and terrorist organisations, in the Federally Administered Territorial Areas, or the Afghanistan-Pakistan border area, under control, that that is a matter of direct and immediate interest to Australia, given the presence of our troops in Afghanistan.

But it's also a matter of intense regional interest, and I'll be encouraging Pakistan to continue to treat that threat as a threat to Pakistan, with the need for Pakistan to respond, in conjunction with, and cooperation with, its neighbours and the international community.

KIRK: But respond how, and respond by when?

SMITH: Well, Lashkar-e-Taiba, but that needs to be brought under control, it's quite clear that the LET was involved in the terrible attack on Mumbai, and the perpetrators themselves need to be brought to justice, to build confidence back between India and Pakistan, and to start the constructive dialogue between India and Pakistan.

KIRK: How will you judge if Pakistan is doing enough on terrorism?

SMITH: Well, part of the test will be the confidence that India has, but in very many respects the test won't be what is Australia's view. The test will be, what is India's perception, or India's view. Which is why I say, and Australia says, we need to ensure that what Pakistan does rebuild confidence with India.

EASTLEY: Australia's Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith, speaking there with Alexandra Kirk.