Brown pledges aid, fight in Pakistan

LONDON, Dec. 3 (UPI) -- Islamabad denied al-Qaida leaders were in Pakistan as British Prime Minister Gordon Brown pledged cooperation in the fight against regional militants.

Brown welcomed Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to London as the world community moves forward with plans to address regional insecurity through a conflict centered in Afghanistan.

U.S. President Barack Obama in a prime-time speech Tuesday outlined a revised war plan for Afghanistan coupled with Pakistani efforts that aims to disrupt the al-Qaida leadership.

"After escaping across the border into Pakistan in 2001 and 2002, al-Qaida's leadership established a safe haven there," the American president noted.

Gilani during a joint appearance with the British premier, however, flatly denied the top leadership of al-Qaida was in his country, the Times of London reports.

"I don't think Osama bin Laden is in Pakistan," he said.

Brown, echoing similar moves from Washington, pledged to help Pakistan with reconstruction and stabilization with an offer of $83 million in aid for Islamabad's efforts in the border regions.

Pakistan launched a major military offensive in the tribal regions bordering Afghanistan in October.

Brown announced that an addition $200 million would go to support non-military efforts in Pakistan.

"We hope to help put 4.7 million children into primary school; reduce the number of underweight children under five by 100,000; and help provide access to clean water for nearly 40 million people," he said.