Miliband, on his first major trip since he took office a month ago, struck a markedly different tone from the United States which recently threatened to launch unilateral strikes on rebels in tribal areas.
"The right way forward is one based on partnership between the countries," Miliband told a news conference when asked if he had discussed the US threats of military action with Musharraf during their meeting earlier in the day.
"In respect of the shared challenges we face in the tribal areas, in every aspect we have been talking about what we can do together, not me lecturing the Pakistani government or vice versa," he added. The British minister said a strong relationship was needed between Pakistan's government and the Nato and US forces in neighbouring Afghanistan to stabilise the volatile border between the two countries.
"This is an issue that requires concerted efforts on both sides of the border. It is also a problem that requires elements of social intervention, as well as security intervention," he said. His counterpart Khurshid Kasuri used their joint press conference to lash out again at the increasingly tough line being taken by the administration of US President George W. Bush.
"Such statements are irresponsible and should not be made," Kasuri said. "It may be election season in the United States but it should not be at our expense." Miliband flew to Islamabad on Wednesday from Kabul, where he met Afghan President Hamid Karzai and other officials for talks on stabilising the volatile region.