ERADICATE 'CRUCIBLE OF TERROR' Brown's al-Qaeda warning in Pakistan.Byline: BOB ROBERTS BRITAIN is under threat from a "crucible of terror" building up on the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan, Gordon Brown warned yesterday. On a top secret visit to Islamabad in Pakistan he warned the situation in the region around the old Khyber Pass Khyber Pass (kī`bər), narrow, steep-sided pass, 28 mi (45 km) long, winding through the Safed Koh Mts., on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border; highest point is 3,500 ft (1,067 m). was deteriorating as Al-Qaeda and the Taliban had begun working together. He fears if they are not tackled increasing numbers of militants will come to Britain on suicide missions. Mr Brown warned: "Either we confront the extremism here and in Pakistan or we let it come to us and fight it in the streets of the UK. "It is absolutely clear there is a chain of terror which ends up with an impact in our capital or other major cities. We cannot sit back and allow this epicentre epicentre Point on the surface of the Earth that is directly above the source (or focus) of an earthquake. There the effects of the earthquake usually are most severe. See also seismology. of terror to exist." Senior counter-terrorism sources said the threat from militant forces keeps them "awake at night". Terrorists have killed 2,000 people in Pakistan in the past year. And Taliban forces came within 60 miles of Islamabad last week. The Mumbai hotel massacre in India was blamed on Pakistani radicals. Its militants also attacked the Sri Lankan cricket team. Experts fear similar attacks could be seen in the UK unless tough action is taken. Yesterday Mr Brown visited British troops at Camp Bastion Camp Bastion is the main British military base in Afghanistan. It is situated north of Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand Province. It is the largest British overseas military camp built since World War II. in Helmand, Afghanistan. He also met Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani. Speaking in Islamabad, he said: "There is a crucible of terrorism in the mountainous border. Our approach to both countries is different but must be complementary." Mr Brown is offering pounds 330million of aid to Pakistan if the military crackdown is successful in the tribal areas Tribal Areas can refer to:
Eleven out of 12 suspects arrested in recent terrors raids in the North West of England The West of England is a loose term given to the area surrounding the City and County of Bristol, England. It is increasingly used - e.g. by the West of England Partnership - as a synonym for the former Avon (county) area. were Pakistani. No charges are being brought but they all face deportation. CAPTION(S): SHAKE With Yousaf Raza Gilani THREAT The PM addresses troops in Helmand Province BREKKIE A chat with a soldier |
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