Britain, India unite to pressure Pakistan over terror

NEW DELHI (Agencies) Britain and India pressed Pakistan on Thursday to tackle militant groups operating from its soil as British Prime Minister David Cameron wrapped up a two-day trade-driven visit to the country. Camerons trip, seen as test of his much-hyped business-oriented foreign policy, was engulfed from the start by the issue of extremism in South Asia after remarks he made about the 'export of terror from Indias neighbour. His initial aim - revitalising a bilateral relationship he thought had stagnated - did win support from his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh, who said the visit had injected 'new momentum in their partnership. They agreed to try to double trade in five years and signed several relatively minor exchange agreements, but militancy in Pakistan, blamed for attacks in India and Afghanistan, dominated their final Press appearance. No one is in any doubt, least of all the Pakistani government themselves, that there has been and still are terrorist organisations ... that need to be cracked down on and eliminated, Cameron said. This was echoed by Singh, who again called on Pakistan to honour its commitment given to us on a number of occasions that Pakistani territory will not be allowed to be used for terrorism. Asked about unrest in South Asia on Wednesday, Cameron responded that Pakistan could not be permitted to 'look both ways in promoting the export of terror while publicly supporting stability in the region. I believe in speaking clearly and plainly about these matters, Cameron told the news conference. What we will continue to do is to work with the Pakistani government to do everything we can to encourage them to crack down and take on these groups that have caused so much pain, so much sufferings within Pakistan and outside. Manmohan Singh said he was hopeful of restoring talks sooner or later to improve ties with rival Pakistan after their last meeting ended in acrimony over the 2008 Mumbai attacks. I sincerely hope that ... we will sooner or later be able to restore the dialogue to give it a proper sense of purpose, Singh told reporters. Singh refused to be drawn into a debate on whether the meeting between Qureshi and Krishna had failed after they openly sparred at a joint news conference following the talks, underscoring the deep mistrust between the nuclear-armed rivals. I can say we are too close to the events to pass a firm judgement on the outcome of the recent discussions between the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan, he said. I think there was agreement on a large number of issues having a bearing on our relationship. I think the way the press conference was handled at the end of the visit by the foreign minister of Pakistan could have been avoided because it detracts from a large element of agreement reached between the foreign ministers of the two countries. We believe Pakistan should be as serious in paying attention to terror on the western borders of Pakistan as on the eastern borders of our side, Singh said. In London, Pakistani High Commissioner Wajid Shamsul Hasan voiced his governments deep disappointment over Camerons comments, saying he had chosen to ignore Pakistans enormous role in the war on terror. He seems to be more reliant on information based on intelligence leaks, despite it lacking credibility or corroborating proof, said Hasan, writing to The Guardian newspaper.

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