New York: Ahead of Tony Blair's visit to Pakistan, an international human rights watchdog has asked the British Prime Minister to demand an end to Islamabad's alleged use of torture and 'disappearances' in the fight against terrorism and internal political conflict.

Blair should 'unequivocally affirm' his Government's commitment to the global ban on torture by publicly telling Musharraf that Britain will not condone Pakistan's use of torture in the fight against terrorism, said Brad Adams, Asia director of US-based Human Rights Watch.

"Torture is so rampant in Pakistan, and the UK's counter-terrorism relationship with Pakistan so important, that Blair cannot remain silent," Adams said.

The rights group said it has documented a pattern of disappearances, arbitrary detention, and torture by the Pakistani security services in counter-terrorism operations across Pakistan.

Some of these cases, it said, have involved individuals with personal connections to Britain or who are suspected of planning or participating in offenses in Britain.

Last year Britain's highest court, the group noted, ruled unanimously that evidence gained through torture outside of the country cannot be used in British courts. The use of such evidence is explicitly prohibited by the Convention against Torture, to which the UK is a party.

"The rampant use of torture in Pakistan makes it almost impossible to prosecute many of the British suspects detained in Pakistan," it said.