The European Union has moved to shore up Pakistan's support for US action against Afghanistan with the promise of substantial financial help and closer political ties.
But Pakistan's foreign minister warned a high-level EU delegation visiting Islamabad against any attempt to impose a new government in Afghanistan.
The delegation, which includes the EU foreign policy chief, Mr Javier Solana, and the External Affairs Commissioner, Mr Chris Patten, was in Pakistan at the start of a five-day tour of Asia and the Middle East.
Belgium's foreign minister, Mr Louis Michel, praised Pakistan's decision to join the US and the EU in fighting terrorism.
"Pakistan has shown that it is able and willing to take up its responsibilities as a member of the international community," he said.
EU relations with Pakistan have been uncertain since the current President, Gen Musharraf, seized power in a military coup two years ago.
Following the military takeover, the EU postponed the signing of a co-operation agreement with Pakistan.
Mr Patten said yesterday that the EU now wants to revive the agreement and offered to help Pakistan return to democracy.
"Sometimes out of the most terrible adversity, it is possible to build. We are conscious of opening doors and windows that have perhaps been closed for too long," he said.
Mr Patten promised immediate emergency aid worth 20 million euros to help Pakistan cope with more than 2 million Afghan refugees inside its borders. But he said that Europe must be prepared to "dig deep in our pockets" over a longer period to prevent Pakistan being destabilised.
Pakistan's Foreign Minister, Mr Abdul Sattar, told the EU delegation that his government was concerned by reports that India, Iran, Russia, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan were stepping up support for the Northern Alliance rebels in Afghanistan.
At a press conference after the meeting, Mr Sattar warned against any attempt to impose a new government on Afghanistan by backing the Northern Alliance.
"We fear that any such decision on the part of foreign powers to assist one side or another is a recipe for great suffering for the people of Afghanistan," he said.
As the EU delegation left Islamabad for Tehran last night, they described their mission as an attempt to reassure Muslim countries that the war against terrorism was not a campaign against Islam.
The EU has stronger links than the US with many states in the region, notably Iran and Syria, which Washington officially regards as sponsors of terrorism.
The EU last week issued an unambiguous declaration of support for a US response to this month's attacks in New York and Washington. But the intensity of support has varied widely.
