Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the (a) security and (b) political situation in Pakistan.

We regularly discuss shared threats with the Government of Pakistan, including those relating to terrorism and especially those coming from Afghanistan. UK counter-terrorism assistance to Pakistan has focussed on protecting civilians, strengthening rule of law and developing civilian counter-terrorism institutions.

We continue to monitor the political situation in Pakistan closely. Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister for South Asia, spoke with the caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Jilani on 12 September, to emphasise the importance of peaceful democratic processes and human rights. In a letter to caretaker Foreign Minister Jilani on 21 August, Lord Ahmad emphasised the need for Pakistan's citizens to be able to exercise their democratic rights and participate in peaceful, inclusive, credible elections.