UK HC summoned to FO

ISLAMABAD After realising that it could not resist the growing pressure from the masses any more with regard to condemning Camerons statement, the Government, after the passage of five long days, finally got up from deep slumber on Monday to summon Britains High Commissioner to Pakistan to record formal protest against the irresponsible and childish statement of British Premier. Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi, in a meeting with the British High Commissioner Adam Thomson, in the Foreign Office on Monday, conveyed the sentiments of the government and the people of Pakistan at the remarks made by the British Prime Minister during his recent visit to India regarding Pakistan, Foreign Office said on Monday. British Prime Minister Camerons allegations triggered a diplomatic row between Pakistan and the UK. In a bid to record protest, Intelligence officials cancelled a UK visit after Cameron said Pakistan should avoid links with groups that promote the export of terror. However, to salt the wounds of entire nation, President Asif Ali Zardari, turning deaf ear to all of the calls made to him by certain quarters to cancel his visit to UK in protest against Camerons statement, finally said on Monday he would go ahead as planned earlier. President Asif Ali Zardari will visit the United Kingdom from 03-08 August, 2010. During his stay there, he will meet the British Prime Minister and Members of Parliament of Pakistan origin, Foreign Office confirmed on Monday. Despite the fact that David Cameron took a dig at the back of 170 million Pakistanis by declaring Pakistan a terrorist country, Pakistani side thinks that President Zardaris visit to UK was likely to boost bilateral relations between Pakistan and Britain. Recently, there have been three important visits to Pakistan from Britain, namely, British Secretary of State for International Development Andrew Mitchell (June 9-11), Foreign Secretary William Hague (23-25 June) and Baroness Warsi, Minister and Chairperson of UK Conservative Party (17-20 July), Foreign office stated on Monday adding that Zardaris visit will bring two countries closer. Despite the fact that UK is among Pakistans largest trading and investment partners in the EU with 100 British companies operating in Pakistan, entire nation has called upon the government to close down diplomatic relations with Britain until David Cameron offers unconditional apology. British Prime Minister David Cameron, who sparked off a controversy over his statement that Pakistan was exporting terror, seems to be in no mood to apologise for it. Quoting a government source, one of the Britains major newspapers 'The Daily Mail reported that Cameron would not withdraw his suggestion that Pakistan was exporting terror. The source (source of Daily mail) also insisted that Cameron meant it. No, he said it and he meant it, the source is quoted as saying. On Jul 28, while on his maiden visit to India, Cameron had warned Pak against exporting terrorism triggering off a war of words between diplomats in Islamabad and in London. We want to see a strong, stable and democratic Pakistan, but we cannot tolerate in any sense export of terrorism, whether to India, Afghanistan or anywhere in the world, he had said. According to foreign policy experts, Camerons allegations against Pakistan are evident of the fact that political heads of the ruling party in UK were not on the same page. In a bid to prove their standpoint, experts gave reference of visits to Pakistan by three major officials of Camerons administration including British Secretary of State for International Development Andrew Mitchell (June 9-11), Foreign Secretary William Hague (23-25 June) and Baroness Warsi, Minister and Chairperson of UK Conservative Party (17-20 July) who spoke highly of Pakistans role against war on terror. Cameron declared openly that he was not on the same page with his fellows including Andrew Mitchell, William Hague and Baroness Warsi, said the foreign policy experts on Monday. Meanwhile on Monday, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi emphasised that terrorism was a global issue and had to be dealt with by all countries in a spirit of cooperation. The British High Commissioner, according to a press note issued from Foreign Office on Monday, explained the context in which the remarks were made by the British Prime Minister adding that the UK was looking forward to further strengthening its strategic relations with Pakistan in the months and years ahead.

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