Zardari to counter Cameron’s “uncalled for” remarks during London visit
By ANITuesday, August 3, 2010
PARIS - British Prime Minister David Cameron’s recent remarks against the country have infuriated the Pakistani leadership, which is planning to press the issue during President Asif Ali Zardari’s upcoming London visit.
Zardari raised the issue during his talks with French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
During his meeting with Sarkozy, Zardari described Cameron’s statement accusing Islamabad of covertly backing the Taliban led insurgency in Afghanistan, as “uncalled for”.
A statement issued by Zardari’s office after the meeting said that it was “unfortunate” that some countries still had doubts over Pakistan’s efforts against extremism.
“No other country in the international coalition has paid such a heavy price in this fight,” the statement quoted Zardari, as saying.
The statement also quoted Zardari’s spokesperson Farhatullah Babar, as saying that the President has rejected calls for cancelling his UK tour in the wake of Cameron’s remarks, as he sees the visit as an opportunity to present Islamabad’s case more clearly.
“Cameron’s uncalled for remarks and the fact that these were made in India has disappointed the people of Pakistan and it was all the more important that the president’s visit to the UK went ahead as planned to raise this and other issues with the British prime minister,” The News quoted Babar, as saying.
It is worth mentioning here that during his India visit last week, Cameron had blasted Pakistan for promoting terror.
“We cannot tolerate in any sense the idea that this country is allowed to look both ways and is able, in any way, to promote the export of terror,” Cameron had said in Bengaluru.
Cameron had said that Pakistan could not “look both ways” in receiving billions of dollars in aid from Western nations while continuing to “promote the export of terror, whether to India or Afghanistan or anywhere else in the world”.
He later defended his comments, and said: “I think it’s important, as I say, to speak frankly about these things to countries that are your friends”.
When asked whether he regretted damaging relations with Pakistan ahead of Zardari’s visit, Cameron said: “I don’t accept that they have been damaged… I look forward to discussing these and other issues (with Zardari)”. (ANI)
