Saturday, July 31, 2010

Pakistan cancels visit to Britain over Cameron terror comments


Pakistan's intelligence agency has cancelled planned talks with security experts in Britain following David Cameron's claim that elements within the country are promoting the export of terror, it is reported.

Mr Cameron's comments sparked outrage in Islamabad during this week's trip to India.

The decision precedes a three-day visit to the UK by Asif Ali Zardari, the Pakistani President, during which he is expected to stay with the Prime Minister at his country home, Chequers.

The Times reported that senior officers from Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) had been due to come to London for talks on counter-terrorism co-operation with British security services.

An ISI spokesman sadi: ''The visit has been cancelled in reaction to the comments made by the British Prime Minister against Pakistan.''

Answering questions following a speech in India, Mr Cameron said he wanted to see ''a strong, stable and democratic Pakistan'', adding: ''But 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 whether to India, whether to Afghanistan or to anywhere else in the world.''

His comments triggered an angry response from Pakistani politicians, who pointed to the country's military offensive against militants on the frontier with Afghanistan and the many victims of terrorist bombs in Pakistan.

The ISI spokesman said: ''Such irresponsible statements could affect our co-operation with Britain.''

Pakistan is regarded by UK agencies as a key nation in the fight against terror, with a majority of plots against British targets believed to have links to the country. Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown said that 75 per cent of terror plots under investigation in the UK were linked to Pakistan.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We do not comment on intelligence matters."

However, Mr Zardari's visit to the UK was still expected to go ahead as planned.

''Our understanding is that the visit is on,'' said a Foreign Office spokeswoman.

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