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Cameron remarks on Pak promoting 'export of terror' sparks off diplomatic row | British Prime Minister David Cameron's remarks that Pakistan is promoting the 'export of terror' in Afghanistan and around the world, has resulted in a diplomatic row between London and Islamabad. In words
greeted with alarm in Islamabad, Cameron also suggested that Pakistan had links
with terrorist groups, and was guilty of double-dealing by aligning itself with
both the West and the forces it was opposing. Speaking in Bangalore on his visit
to India, Cameron launched the strongest British criticism yet of Pakistan, warning
that the country could no longer "look both ways" by tolerating terrorism while
demanding respect as a democracy. The row comes as Pakistan President Asif Ali
Zardari prepares to visit Britain next week, The Guardian reports. Pakistani High
Commissioner to Britain Wajid Shamsul Hasan writing for the Guardian accused Cameron
of damaging prospects for regional peace, and criticised him for believing allegations
in the leaked secret military files of the Afghanistan conflict. The leaked documents
suggest that the ISI, one of Pakistan's two military intelligence agencies, was
encouraging the Taliban as recently as last year. Hasan wrote: "One would have
wished that the prime minister would have considered Pakistan's enormous role
in the war on terror and the sacrifices it has rendered since 9/11. "There seems
to be more reliance on information based on intelligence leaks which lack credibility
of proof. A bilateral visit aimed at earning business could have been done without
damaging the prospects of regional peace." Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesman
Abdul Basit told Radio 4's World at One: "There is no question of Pakistan looking
the other way. I think the Prime Minister was referring to these reports, which
are unverifiable and outdated. If we start drawing inferences from these self-serving
reports, then obviously we are distracting ourselves." Cameron's language came
close to endorsing the Indian view that authorities in Pakistan have a hand in
the terror, as Britain has spoken in the past of the terror threat from Pakistan,
The Guardian reports. Downing Street insisted that Cameron was not accusing the
Pakistan Government of sponsoring terrorism. But a few minutes after his speech,
Cameron made clear that official agencies in Pakistan were responsible for harbouring
terrorists. Asked whether Pakistan exports terrorism, Cameron said: "I choose
my words very carefully. It is unacceptable for anything to happen within Pakistan
that is about supporting terrorism elsewhere. "It is well-documented that that
has been the case in the past, and we have to make sure that the Pakistan authorities
are not looking two ways. They must only look one way, and that is to a democratic
and stable Pakistan." |
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