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Fri, 30 Jul 2010 Africa

Cameron Defends Pakistan Comments

By Daily Guide
David CameronDavid Cameron

Prime Minister David Cameron has defended his comments about Pakistan's record on tackling terrorism as he completed his trip to India.

At a press conference with Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh, he said no-one was in "any doubt" there were terrorist groups operating in Pakistan.

The Pakistan government had made real progress but must do more to "crack down on and eliminate" them, he said.

He said he was "looking forward" to talks with Pakistan's president.

President Asif Ali Zardari's visit to the UK next week is likely to be dominated by the fallout from Mr Cameron's trip to India where he warned Pakistan about "promoting the export of terror" and being allowed to "look both ways" on the issue.

'Eliminating threat'
His remarks were criticised by Pakistani officials and led to him being accused of "damaging the prospects of regional peace".

In his last official engagement of the trip - a press conference with Indian Prime Minister Singh - Mr Cameron again stood by his remarks.

"We should be fair to the Pakistan government that they have taken steps in recent years to combat some of the terrorism in their own midst," he said.

"But we need to go on encouraging this action to take place so we can reduce and eliminate the threat of terrorism, whether here in India, Afghanistan or on the streets on London."

Asked whether he would be similarly candid when he met the Pakistan president in Britain next week, Mr Cameron said he would.

"I think the right way is to discuss these things frankly, openly and clearly. I look forward to having discussions next week, including with the Pakistan president."

Earlier, he told the BBC that speaking frankly about the issue was "what people expect of their government".

His remarks followed the leaking of US documents on the Wikileaks website in which Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence agency was accused of secretly helping the Afghan insurgency.

'Enormous role'
Pakistan's High Commissioner to the UK, Wajid Shamsul Hasan, criticised Mr Cameron for choosing to believe leaks that the official said lacked both credibility and corroboration.

Writing in the Guardian, he said: "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.

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