**Foreign Secretary David Miliband has arrived in Pakistan for talks on Afghanistan and combating terrorism.**Mr Miliband’s visit comes ahead of an international conference on Afghanistan to be held in London later this month.
He also said he would discuss the political, economic and security challenges facing Pakistan.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has previously contradicted Gordon Brown about claims that Osama Bin Laden was in Pakistan.
Mr Miliband will be holding talks with Mr Gilani, President Asif Ali Zardari and other ministers and military leaders.
Speaking ahead of the two-day trip, the foreign secretary said: "Pakistan’s armed forces and Pakistan’s civilians have suffered greatly from terrorist violence and they are showing great sacrifice in taking on the internal terrorist threat that I believe is the greatest threat to the future of Pakistan.
International ties
“I will be discussing how Pakistan is rising to the challenge, with international support, of addressing the danger that it faces.”
He added that he was looking forward to discussing the current situation on each side of the Afghanistan and Pakistan border “and how we can extend co-operation across that border”.
Mr Miliband also said Britain and Pakistan shared many ties through their histories, cultures, families and political aims.
Mr Brown had suggested Pakistan should be doing more to tackle terrorism in the region prior to a meeting with Mr Gilani at Downing Street last month.
But Mr Gilani said Pakistan had not been given any credible information by the West about Bin Laden’s whereabouts.