Italy Backs Pakistan`s Stand Against Terrorism

Pakistan is under pressure from the West, particularly the United States, to do more to eradicate the militant threat in its tribal areas.

Italy backs Pakistan's efforts to combat terrorism without negotiating with militants who refuse to lay down arms, Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said on Monday after meeting Pakistani leaders.

"Our political strategy... is to not legitimise terrorists but eradicate terrorism from inside of the civil society," said Frattini, who met with Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi.

The Pakistan government issued a statement thanking Italy for writing off a $100 million debt by converting it into economic assistance for Pakistani social sectors.

Italy has more than 2,000 troops serving with NATO forces in Afghanistan, fighting a Taliban insurgency that military officials and analysts say has been partly fuelled by fighters crossing from Pakistan's tribal lands.

Addressing a news conference in Islamabad, Frattini endorsed Pakistan's strategy of trying to win over support from the conservative ethnic Pashtun tribes of the region, and not negotiate with militants until they laid down their arms.

"We do want Pakistan combating terrorism and fighting terrorists, not negotiating with terrorists. This is why we share the same point of view," the Italian minister said, adding that a bilateral accord on security should be signed early next year.

Pakistan is under pressure from the West, particularly the United States, to do more to eradicate the militant threat in its tribal areas.

The Pakistani military, backed by tribal militias, is battling to drive out al Qaeda and pro-Taliban militants from the Bajaur tribal region and northwest valley of Swat.

Pakistan has lost well over 1,000 troops since 2001, and the militants have responded by launching suicide attacks in Pakistani cities.

"Pakistan has paid very heavy price for fighting terrorism and should be helped in economic terms, cultural terms and political terms," Frattini said.

Pakistan is on the brink of a balance of payments crisis that could push it into a default on foreign debt unless support from multilateral lenders and friendly governments emerges.