London: Britain has welcomed the 12-point proposal mooted by India to thaw relations with Pakistan and asked the two Governments to quickly implement the steps on which they could immediately agree.

"It is important that Pakistan and India work together to close the gap, over which there is less common ground. We, along with others in the international community, stand ready to help both countries to sustain the process of confidence-building and normalising bilateral relations that have resulted in their outstanding differences including Kashmir," British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said.

After a meeting with Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri yesterday (Nov 4), Straw said Britain would continue the ongoing help to ease tensions between the two countries.

Straw also praised Pakistan's contribution to the war against terrorism.

Kasuri later said the goalposts had been moved over Pakistan's suspension from the Commonwealth. Pakistan was suspended following the 1999 military coup.

"When you sit in judgment on the level of democracy in any country you are really treading into very difficult territory. At the moment, we feel the goalposts are being changed which is not fair," he said.

"Pakistan is probably the second largest country in the Commonwealth and I don't see how the Commonwealth's own purposes are served by keeping Pakistan out. Things must be seen in perspective and goalposts must not be changed," he added.

PTI