denial of food or sleep, hanging upside down, and forced spreading of the legs with bar fetters. Security force personnel reportedly raped women during interrogations. The government rarely took action against those responsible.”61 The UK places a high premium on counterterrorism cooperation with Pakistan. During a November 2006 visit to the country, then Prime Minister Tony Blair praised the “tremendous co-operation” of Pakistan in the “global struggle” against Islamic extremism.62 The 2007 FCO human rights report states unequivocally that Pakistan is “one of our most important partners in our counter-terrorism efforts. Pakistan and the UK work closely together at all levels, including through regular political contact and operational co-operation.”63 This language was only slightly tempered in the 2008 report, published in March 2009.64 The FCO 2009 human rights report, published in March 2010, does little to dispel concerns about the UK’s willingness to water down its anti-torture position when it comes to fighting terrorism. It states: Whether sharing information [with foreign intelligence and security agencies], which might lead to the detention of people who could pose a threat to our national security, passing questions to be put to detainees, or participating in interviews of them, we do all we can to minimize, and where possible, avoid the risk that the people in question are mistreated by those holding them. However, there are times when we cannot reduce the risk to zero…Ultimately it is for Ministers to balance the risk of mistreatment against the national security needs and make a judgment.65 As such, the report outlines a policy that appears to authorize active seeking of intelligence as well as direct participation by UK security agents in interrogations of detained terrorism 61 US State Department, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, “Country Reports on Human Rights Practices – 2008: Pakistan,” February 25, 2009, http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2008/sca/119139.htm (accessed September 10, 2009). 62 UK Prime Minister’s Office, “Joint Declaration with President Pervez Musharraf (19 November 2006),” http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page10475 (accessed September 16, 2009). 63 UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), 2007 Annual Human Rights Report, http://www.fco.gov.uk/resources/en/pdf/human-rights-report-2007 (accessed September 16, 2009), p. 16. 64 The 2008 FCO annual report on human rights states: “Pakistan is an important partner in our efforts to counter terrorism and we work closely at all levels.” UK FCO 2008 Annual Human Rights Report, http://www.fco.gov.uk/resources/en/pdf/pdf15/human-rights-2008 (accessed September 16, 2009), p. 154. 65 UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), Annual Report on Human Rights 2009, http://centralcontent.fco.gov.uk/resources/en/pdf/human-rights-reports/human-rights-report-2009 (accessed March 18, 2010), p. 48. 25 Human Rights Watch | June 2010