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Central & South Asia
Pakistan summons British envoy
Move comes after diplomatic row over UK prime minister's "export of terror" remarks.
Last Modified: 02 Aug 2010 18:58 GMT
David Cameron made the remarks while on a visit to Pakistan's neighbour India [AFP]

The British high commissioner in Islamabad has been summoned to meet Pakistan's foreign minister, following controversial remarks made by the UK's prime minister last week.

Adam Thompson went into talks with Shah Mehmood Qureshi in the Pakistani capital on Monday morning to discuss the comments, a foreign ministry spokesman said.

David Cameron sparked a diplomatic row when he suggested, during a trip to India, that elements in Pakistan were "looking both ways" on extremist violence and "promoting the export of terror".

During Monday's talks Qureshi "emphasised that terrorism was a global issue and had to be dealt with by all countries in a spirit of co-operation", a statement by the foreign ministry said.

It added that Thompson was "looking forward to further strengthening its strategic relations with Pakistan".

Senior political figures, including Pakistan's prime minister, voiced anger over the comments, which also led to protesters burning an effigy of Cameron in the streets of Karachi.

Zardari trip

Pakistan's information minister said Asif Ali Zardari, the Pakistani president, would correct Cameron's "misperception" when they meet in the UK on Tuesday.

"The president of Pakistan will explain and have a dialogue and good discussion and he will explain the facts to the new government over here," Qamar Zama Kaira said.

"We hope that the new leadership over here, when they get the exact picture, will agree with us."

Zardari held talks with Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, at the Elysee Palace in Paris on Monday, ahead of his visit to Britain.

"France feels that Pakistan is a responsible partner with them in the world," said Zardari, adding that Sarkozy had said he would visit Pakistan later in the year.

The Pakistani leader did not directly address the argument with the UK, and a senior French official, briefing journalists after the private meeting on condition of anonymity, said the issue did not come up.

Source:
Agencies
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