Pakistan president in Brown talks - News in brief - Evening Standard
       

Pakistan president in Brown talks

The escalating conflict between Pakistan's army and the Taliban is expected to be top of the agenda as Gordon Brown holds talks with the Pakistani president in London.

Mr Brown is meeting President Asif Ali Zardari before the pair give a press conference at Downing Street.

Last month's arrest of 11 Pakistani nationals during an anti-terror operation in north-west England is also expected to be discussed.

Several of those arrested are facing a bid to deport them on national security grounds despite being released without charge.

The issue caused tensions between the leaders when Mr Brown visited Pakistan last month. President Zardari pulled out of a joint news conference amid speculation that he was unhappy about what had happened.

Pakistan stepped up its campaign against the Taliban after dropping troops by helicopter to tackle a stronghold in the country's north-west.

Hundreds of thousands are said to have fled the fighting and human rights campaigners are urging the army and Taliban to avoid civilian casualties.

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