Author: Prasun Sonwalkar
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: August 3, 2010
URL: http://www.dailypioneer.com/273541/Cameron-not-to-apologise-for-Pak-remarks.html
As Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari prepares
to commence his visit to Britain, the Downing Street has ruled out that Prime
Minister David Cameron will back away or apologise for his remarks made about
Islamabad "exporting terror" as "he meant it".
Zardari is scheduled to go ahead with his
trip to Britain on Tuesday and is scheduled to meet Cameron at his country
residence Chequers on Friday, despite protests back home in Pakistan that
he cancel the visit.
The visit has been clouded by Cameron's remarks
in India about Pakistan "looking both ways" on terrorism, prompting
Pakistan's powerful intelligence chief Lt Gen Shuja Pasha to call off his
trip.
Downing Street sources said Cameron will try
to assuage Pakistan anger over his remarks but will not apologise for accusing
elements in Pakistan for "looking both ways" on terrorism.
Cameron had said in Bangalore: "We cannot
tolerate in any sense the idea that this country (Pakistan) is allowed to
look both ways and is able, in any way, to promote the export of terror, whether
to India or whether to Afghanistan or anywhere else in the world".
A senior Downing Street source told the Daily
Telegraph: "He (Cameron) stands by his comments. We are not looking to
inflame the situation and we made clear that his comments were not directed
at the Pakistan Government, but what he said was clear. We are glad the President's
trip is going ahead and we are looking forward to the talks."
Another source told Daily Mail that Cameron
would not apologise for his outspoken remarks, adding: "No, he said it
and he meant it."
Pakistan's High Commissioner to Britain Wajid
Shamsul Hasan defended the decision to continue with the President's visit.
"You don't give up talking just because you're upset," he said.
"You discuss these matters. If we find
that the British Prime Minister is amenable, then fine. If not, then we can
consider other options."
Hasan said the Prime Minister's contentious
comments would be discussed during the two leaders' meeting.
"Cameron did plain talking, so the President
will do plain talking."
Labour MP Khalid Mahmood said: "A lot
of people of Pakistani origin are hugely enflamed 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."
