UK foreign secretary in Pakistan

Mr Miliband is expected to visit refugee camps

UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband has arrived in Pakistan for the start of a three-day visit to the country.

He visited a camp for people displaced by fighting, telling them they were at the "sharp end" of Pakistan's struggle.

Mr Miliband is also expected to hold talks with President Asif Ali Zardari and other senior politicians, and visit a Madrasa Islamic School.

The UK is increasing aid to Pakistan but agencies handling the humanitarian emergency say there is a cash "crisis".

Speaking to a group of villagers assembled in a tent, Mr Miliband said: "I assure you that our commitment to you is strong and long-lasting and we want to work with you to try to build the sort of long-term security that you say you want."

The displaced people told the foreign secretary they wanted to go home but were still afraid.

"We want to return but not until it's totally cleared, even though we have lots of problems here," said resident Gulzada Khan.

"We left our homes because of them and now we don't want to live with them," he said of the Taliban.

The BBC's David Loyn in Islamabad says the latest British intelligence estimate is that almost three quarters of the plots to carry out terrorist attacks in Britain have their origins in Pakistan, giving urgency to political contacts such as Mr Miliband's visit.

Much of the new aid from Britain will be spent on education, and the foreign secretary will also visit a university.