PM adamant over 'look both ways' Pakistan terror jibe
David Cameron condemned by Pakistani government after accusing country of 'looking both ways' on terrorism
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Thursday, 29, Jul 2010 11:49
By Matthew Champion.
David Cameron has refused to back down after Pakistan reacted with his anger to a speech in India in which he accused the country of promoting and exporting terrorism.
The remarks by the UK prime minister, made to business leaders in Bangalore, have threatened to overshadow a three-day visit of India.
Despite Pakistani criticism of his speech, in which Mr Cameron accused the country of 'looking both ways', the prime minister has refused to retract them, saying he would always "speak frankly" on the world stage.
"I don't think the British taxpayer wants me to go around the world saying what people want to hear," Mr Cameron said.
In his speech, which comes after whistle-blowing website WikiLeaks claimed to have uncovered thousands of secret US military documents exposing support for the Taliban insurgency from Pakistan's ISI intelligence agency, Mr Cameron reference the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, which New Delhi blamed upon Pakistan.
"We cannot tolerate in any sense the idea that this country is allowed to look both ways and is able to promote the export of terror, whether to India or Afghanistan or anywhere else in the world," the prime minister said.
"That is why this relationship is important. But it should be a relationship based on a very clear message: that it is not right to have any relationship with groups that are promoting terror. Democratic states that want to be part of the developed world cannot do that. The message to Pakistan from the US and from the UK is very clear on that point."
Writing in the Guardian Pakistan's high commissioner to Britain Wajid Shamsul Hasan responded with: "One would have wished that the prime minister would have considered Pakistan's enormous role in the war on terror and the sacrifices it has rendered since 9/11.
"There seems to be more reliance on information based on intelligence leaks which lack credibility of proof. A bilateral visit aimed at earning business could have been done without damaging the prospects of regional peace."
Mr Cameron, who is due to meet Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh later on Thursday, added: "I choose my words very carefully. It is unacceptable for anything to happen within Pakistan that is about supporting terrorism elsewhere. It is well-documented that that has been the case in the past, and we have to make sure that the Pakistan authorities are not looking two ways. They must only look one way, and that is to a democratic and stable Pakistan."