Asia & the Pacific

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Tariq ur Rehman at Islamabad airport, June 11, 2009. One of the Pakistani students rounded up by British authorities on allegations of terrorism that were later dropped described his detention as "mental torture" upon returning to his native country.

AP Photo

Analysis & Opinions - politics.co.uk

Foreign Students are an Opportunity, Not a Threat

| June 18, 2009

"...[W]e should resist the temptation to react to the fear of terrorism by turning inwards, reducing ties to foreign countries, and denying more students entry. Reducing the number of foreign student Visas would be counterproductive. The US tried it after September 11th, but has now reversed its approach, realising the harm it is doing. To do the same would be to be cowed into becoming a more closed society. We must remain open, outward-looking and vibrant. It is precisely many of these foreign students who will help their countries to reduce terrorism over the long run."