Pakistan summons British envoy over PM’s ‘export of terror’ claims

Feeling the heat: an effigy of the Prime Minister is burned in Pakistan
12 April 2012

Pakistan's government today summoned Britain's High Commissioner in Islamabad following David Cameron's remarks on terrorism.

Adam Thomson was called to meet foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi amid efforts to prevent the spat overshadowing President Asif Ali Zardari's visit to the UK this week.

The Prime Minister sparked anger during a trip to India last week by suggesting that elements in Pakistan were "looking both ways" on Islamist violence and "promoting the export of terror".

An effigy of Mr Cameron was burned by protesters in the streets of Karachi and a visit to London by agents from Pakistan's ISI intelligence agency for talks with British security officers was cancelled.

Senior figures, including Pakistan's prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, criticised Mr Cameron, and the country's information minister said Mr Zardari — who arrives here tomorrow — would correct the PM's "misperception" when they meet at his country retreat Chequers.

Islamabad acted in advance of the meeting by summoning Mr Thomson. A UK Foreign Office spokesman said: "We can confirm that the British High Commissioner to Pakistan met this morning with the foreign minister, at the request of the ministry of foreign affairs."

Pakistan's information minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said the remarks on terrorism had been made by the "new" British Prime Minister — suggesting that his country may try to play down Mr Cameron's words by blaming them on a lack of experience.

Downing Street said the Prime Minister was sticking to his views on efforts in Pakistan to tackle terrorism.

Mr Zardari was today in France at the start of his European trip.

In Pakistan, Mr Cameron's remarks were widely interpreted as a response to the leak of thousands of secret documents on the Afghan conflict, which included numerous but largely unsubstantiated allegations of collusion between the ISI and the Taliban.

Rejecting the claims, Mr Kaira said that Pakistan was "the biggest victim of terror" and lost 2,700 soldiers in military offensives against militants in the north-west frontier area bordering Afghanistan.

He also rejected suggestions that the ISI was covertly backing the Taliban.

Mr Cameron has also been criticised at home for his comments. Labour MP Khalid Mahmood said the affair had infuriated Britain's million-strong Pakistani community.

He said: "A lot of people of Pakistani origin are hugely inflamed by this. They feel the country of their origin has been criticised for no real reason other than point-scoring by David Cameron. If you'll excuse the pun, all he's trying to do is curry favour with the Indians."

Shadow foreign secretary David Miliband compared Mr Cameron's diplomatic style to "a cuttlefish squirting out ink".

Britain today increased its aid to Pakistan by £5 million in response to the floods there which have killed more than 1,100 people.

Overseas aid secretary Andrew Mitchell said the UK would provide 4,560 lavatories, 336,000 bars of sanitising soap, 270,000 buckets and jerry cans, 400,000 water purifications kits and 800,000 water cleaning tablets. Mr Cameron sent his condolences.

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