Tony Blair’s trip to Pakistan is well timed and well worth making. Both sides can help the other in practical terms and to repair the rift that had been growing.

The return of Mirza Tahir Hussain to Britain shows that President Musharraf would like to do what he can to keep relations warm. But even more important may be his decision to overturn Pakistan’s notorious laws that made proving sexual assault almost impossible, and criminalised some sex outside marriage. That shows that he is willing to take on Pakistan’s religious parties, which has sometimes been in doubt.

In their meetings, the theme of forced marriages of British girls may come up. But this has not been a source of real tension. Instead, there are two more controversial themes: security and terrorism.

Since 7/7 Britain has been concerned about the help and inspiration that young British Muslims might get from militant Islamists in Pakistan. Britain was frustrated that investigations into those bombings ran into the sands in Pakistan, although Musharraf, in his autobiography, said that Britain could have been more helpful by alerting Pakistani intelligence to the identities of suspects.

But recently relations have warmed considerably. The uncovering of an alleged terrorist attack in Britain owed a lot, both sides said, to co-operation in intelligence. Blair promised Pakistan more aid for moderate schools to help Musharraf to bring madrassas back towards the mainstream.

Yet Britain and the US are concerned about whether Pakistan is doing enough to prevent the Taleban crossing the Afghan-Pakistan border to get resources for attacks on Nato. They worry that Musharraf has been fitful in his attempts: sending in the Army when the US and Britain piled on pressure, but then easing up. Musharraf has pointed out that for two years the Pakistani Army has fought a battle in Waziristan, in which, reports say, it has lost more than 700 soldiers.

But two months ago he struck a deal with tribal leaders — that they would secure the border in return for the withdrawal of much of the Army. Officials from the Bush Administration say that has enabled the Taleban to regroup — leading to a rise in attacks on Nato forces in Afghanistan. Blair wants reassurance that Musharraf has a Plan B for the border. Musharraf’s suggestion of mining the border shows his frustration.

Britain will take comfort from Musharraf’s decision to press ahead with a rewriting of the Hudood Ordinances, brought in under General Zia ul-Haq, which led to the jailing of some rape victims on the ground of adultery.

After he took power in 1999 Musharraf said that he wanted to repeal the laws but was stopped by protests from religious political parties. Part of the West’s concern is that he has turned to those parties for support.

But his move this month shows he is willing to take them on. So does the release of Mirza Tahir Hussain. Of course, the question in the British delegation may be whether this is just a gesture before Blair’s visit. But they will also recognise the forces that Musharraf is trying to balance.

Times Recommends

• Fragility always gets my sympathy vote
• Double it and you get the real jobless total
• Has al-Megrahi paid his council tax?