Cameron and Pakistan

[Lahore_Real_Estate]

A British newspaper, Evening Standard, published its lead story with the headline: Cameron: Pakistan Exporting Terror. While speaking to Indian businessmen in Bangalore, the British Prime Minister hit out at Pakistan. Mr Cameron said: “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 Afghanistan or anywhere else in the world….It should be a relationship based on a very clear message: that it is not right to have relationships with groups that are promoting terror.” He added: “Britain stood shoulder to shoulder with India in its determination that such groups (as Lashkar-i-Taiba) should not be allowed to launch attacks on Indian and British citizens.” He also pledged to broaden “UKs counter-terrorism partnership” with India. Later, despite protests from Pakistan and some of the British Labour leaders, Mr Cameron reiterated his frontal attack on Pakistan by saying: “It was well-documented that Pakistan had in the past, used its links with terror groups to pursue its foreign policy.”
This public vilification of Pakistan by the head of government of an influential state came hot on the heels of the WikiLeaks, consisting of 92,000 secret US documents accusing the ISI of collusion with the Taliban and also a plot to kill President Hamid Karzai. Earlier, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during her recent visit to Pakistan did not mince words when she referred to certain elements within our military of having links with Al-Qaeda and Taliban. One may also refer to Indian Home Secretary’s brazen assertion (when Indian Foreign Minister was visiting Pakistan) that ISI was involved in the Mumbai terrorist attacks.
Nevertheless, the US and other major powers have acknowledged the sustained operation launched by the Pakistan army against Al-Qaeda and Taliban who are now suffering from heavy casualties. Thought unfortunately thousands of civilians have also been killed. It is widely accepted that Pakistan itself is the biggest victim of terrorism and has had the highest number of suicide attacks in most of its major cities. All this loss of persons and property, as well as insecurity and lawlessness, has severely affected the economic and cultural life. In spite of this, the country is committed to ensure that its territory is not allowed for terrorist activities against other and especially neighbouring countries. The fact of the matter is that it is due to continuous drone attacks by the US and ISAF forces in Afghanistan that has resulted in the increase of terrorist activities in Pakistan. There is a widespread feeling that these strikes in Pakistan and infiltration from Afghanistan have spawned unending terrorist assaults all over the country.

[LRE]

http://www.express.com.pk