Home »Top Stories » Cameron, Zardari try to put ties back on track

  • News Desk
  • Aug 6th, 2010
  • Comments Off on Cameron, Zardari try to put ties back on track
Prime Minister David Cameron will pledge Britain's support for Pakistan during a meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari, a spokesman said on Thursday, as the two countries try to repair a diplomatic row. Cameron invited Zardari, who is on a five-day visit to Britain, to dinner on Thursday at his Chequers official country residence - the first foreign leader to be accorded the honour since Cameron took power in May, according to aides.

Formal talks on Friday will focus on strengthening co-operation in countering terrorism, a spokesman for Cameron said. "It is an important opportunity to reinforce the strong links between the UK and Pakistan and continue to support stability, security, democracy and prosperity in Pakistan," the spokesman said.

Cameron angered Pakistan when he said on a visit to India last week that Pakistan must not "look both ways" in its approach to Islamic militants. His remarks came days after US military reports published on the WikiLeaks website detailed concerns Pakistan's Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) agency had aided Taliban militants fighting in Afghanistan.

Pakistan's spy chief cancelled a trip to Britain in protest at Cameron's remarks. Cameron's spokesman said he and Zardari would discuss the international response to the floods on Friday and what more Britain could do to help. Britain has donated 10 million pounds ($15.8 million) for flood relief efforts.

Britain is a major aid donor to Pakistan, having pledged 665 million pounds to Pakistan from 2009-2013, and nearly a million people of Pakistani origin live in Britain. Cameron and Zardari will also discuss the situation in Afghanistan, where Britain has 9,500 soldiers, the second largest foreign contingent after the United States. Zardari risked widening the rift with Cameron on Tuesday by saying the US-led Cameron and Zardari were also likely to discuss how to boost trade between their two countries, Cameron's spokesman said.

Copyright Reuters, 2010


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