Zardari faces a daunting challenge of tackling poverty and extremism in Pakistan as he tries to shore up support in the tribal regions and within his own government. Bhutto repeatedly alleged that Pakistan's security services had longstanding ties to extremist elements.
"The time has come for action and not words, and I want to help Pakistan and other countries root out terrorism," Brown told reporters at a joint news conference with Zardari.
Britain would offer Pakistan counterterrorism equipment for detecting bombs and explosives at airports. It would also contribute $9 million to lure youths away from extremist activities by offering them educational materials and programs.
Brown discussed similar assistance with India's prime minister, Manmohan Singh, earlier yesterday, including a better system for sharing intelligence.
Although British and American intelligence agencies helped thwart a trans-Atlantic airliner attack in 2006 - a plot that had links to Pakistan - fewer success stories have been attributed to intelligence information out of Pakistan or India.
The nuclear rivals fought three wars since their independence from Britain in 1947 - two of them over the Himalayan region of Kashmir, whose status has emerged as a recurrent theme in the radicalization of young British Muslims.
Despite a peace process that began in 2004, tensions remain high and intelligence sharing has been limited.
India has blamed the Mumbai attacks on the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba Islamic group, straining relations even further.
Brown echoed the assertion, saying the group has long been on Britain's radar.
Abdullah Ghaznavi, Lashkar's chief spokesman, denied the allegation, saying his group targets Indian defense forces and installations to force India out of Kashmir.
"We reject the claim of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and urge him to independently investigate this matter instead of relying on false and fabricated evidence provided by India," Ghaznavi said during a telephone interview yesterday.
"This is a jihad and it will continue," he added.
