Prime Minister David Cameron's office said today that the British leader stands by remarks he made in India last week about Pakistan and the export of terrorism.
Cameron's comments triggered a diplomatic row and anger across much of Pakistan -- leading Islamabad to summon the British ambassador to receive a formal complaint.
Speaking in Bangalore on July 28, Cameron suggested that Pakistan is "looking both ways" on exporting terrorism while demanding respect as a democracy.
"We want to see a strong and a stable and democratic Pakistan. But we cannot tolerate in any sense the idea that this country is allowed to look both ways and is able, in any way, to promote the export of terror, whether to India or whether to Afghanistan or anywhere else in the world," Cameron said.
The head of Pakistan's powerful Inter-Services Intelligence agency, Lieutenant General Ahmed Shujaa Pasha, responded by calling off a trip to London planned for this week. But Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari has ignored domestic calls for him to cancel his trip to Britain later this week.
Zardari arrived in Paris today at the start of his weeklong European trip. He is expected to meet with French President Nicolas Sarkozy later today.
Pakistan insists that it has done more than any other country to combat terrorism. But its spy agency has long been accused of secretly aiding Afghanistan's Taliban and other Islamist militants.
compiled from agency reports
Cameron's comments triggered a diplomatic row and anger across much of Pakistan -- leading Islamabad to summon the British ambassador to receive a formal complaint.
Speaking in Bangalore on July 28, Cameron suggested that Pakistan is "looking both ways" on exporting terrorism while demanding respect as a democracy.
"We want to see a strong and a stable and democratic Pakistan. But we cannot tolerate in any sense the idea that this country is allowed to look both ways and is able, in any way, to promote the export of terror, whether to India or whether to Afghanistan or anywhere else in the world," Cameron said.
The head of Pakistan's powerful Inter-Services Intelligence agency, Lieutenant General Ahmed Shujaa Pasha, responded by calling off a trip to London planned for this week. But Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari has ignored domestic calls for him to cancel his trip to Britain later this week.
Zardari arrived in Paris today at the start of his weeklong European trip. He is expected to meet with French President Nicolas Sarkozy later today.
Pakistan insists that it has done more than any other country to combat terrorism. But its spy agency has long been accused of secretly aiding Afghanistan's Taliban and other Islamist militants.
compiled from agency reports