Britain hails Pakistani reforms, vows support

ISLAMABAD, Nov 26 (Reuters) - British Foreign Secretary David Miliband welcomed on Wednesday the "reforming zeal" of Pakistan's civilian government that he said was turing the country into an outward-looking force for regional cooperation.

Miliband arrived in Pakistan from neighbouring Afghanistan where 8,000 British soldiers are battling an escalating Taliban insurgency that is buttressed by support from militant strongholds in northwest Pakistan.

"The reforming zeal and instincts of the government are coming to the fore in Pakistan in a positive way and are gaining the confidence of the international community," Miliband told reporters after talks with his Pakistani counterpart.

"That's obviously true on the economic front, but I think it's also very significant, the foreign policy dialogue that's being pursued with Afghanistan, with India," he said.

Economic problems and surging militant violence have beset the eight-month old civilian government, raising fears the nuclear-armed Western ally on the front line of the global campaign against militancy could become a "failed state".

The International Monetary Fund approved on Monday a $7.6 billion loan for Pakistan to avert a balance of payments crisis and prevent the government defaulting on international debt obligations.

While grappling with the economic crisis, the government led by President Asif Ali Zardari, widower of assassinated former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, has been trying to improve strained ties with both Afghanistan and India.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi was due to travel to India later on Wednesday for a four-day visit that will include talks on the old rivals' tentative four-year peace process.

"GOOD TO HEAR"