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Pakistan's Zardari, U.K.'s Cameron Pledge Antiterror Cooperation

06.08.2010 12:54

By RFE/RL

Pakistan and Britain have pledged to further strengthen mutual ties after a meeting between British Prime Minister David Cameron and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari today.

The two were aiming to smooth over a dispute triggered by Cameron's recent remarks that Pakistan was turning a blind eye toward the "export" of terrorism.

The two leaders were all smiles, though, before television cameras after formal talks at the prime minister’s Chequers country house outside London.

Pakistan had protested Cameron's comments, made during a trip to India, and Zardari pledged to “educate” Cameron. Zardari’s suggestion in a recent interview that the international community is losing the war of "hearts and minds" in Afghanistan stirred even more controversy.

But speaking to journalists after today's talks, Cameron described their meeting as “excellent” and pledged to further strengthen what he called the two countries' “unbreakable” bilateral relationship.

"What we've been talking about is our strategic partnership and how we can deepen and enhance that partnership to make sure we deal with all the issues where we want to see progress, whether that is in trade, whether it's in education, and also in the absolutely vital area of combating terrorism," Cameron said.

A joint statement after the meeting said that mutual cooperation will be further strengthened in a comprehensive strategic dialogue between the leaders of the two nations.

It said the prime minister "recognized the sacrifices made by Pakistan’s military, civil law enforcement agencies and people in fighting violent extremism and militancy and appreciated the efforts of the democratic government” -- a further attempt to end the controversies over Cameron’s remarks in India.

Zardari, too, said that the relationship between the two countries was strong and can withstand the test of time.

"It's a friendship which will never break, no matter what happens," Zardari said. "Storms will come and storms will go and Pakistan and Britain will stand together and face all the difficulties with dignity and we will make sure that the world is a better place for our coming generations tomorrow."

Storms of a different sort cast another pall over this visit. Zardari has faced criticism at home for making the trip as Pakistan struggles to deal with the worst flooding in its history.

While the British leader pledged more aid for Pakistan’s flood victims, Zardari said he hoped that London will also back its efforts to open European markets for Pakistani exports.

Cameron also accepted Zardari’s invitation for an early visit to Pakistan.

The two sides also agreed to further enhance cooperation between their security agencies. The foreign and interior ministers of the two countries are expected to meet in joint working groups and strategic dialogue sessions this fall.

written by Abubakar Siddique

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/Pakistani_President_Zardari_Meets_With_Britains_Cameron/2120480.html

Copyright (c) 2010. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.