Cameron: I recognise the sacrifices of Pakistan
By Ian Dunt
David Cameron has tried to put the terrorism row behind him by telling the Pakistani president he recognises the sacrifices his country has made in the so-called ‘war on terror’ during a meeting at Chequers.
The talks with President Zardari also envisaged a future of closer cooperation between Pakistan and the UK.
Relations between the two men were at breaking point after Mr Cameron said Pakistan “looked both ways” on the terrorist issue during a visit to India last week.
Pakistani intelligence services cancelled a trip to the UK in protest, but Mr Zardari pressed ahead with his visit.
He was under huge pressure to show a tough attitude towards Mr Cameron and an interview with French newspaper le Monde earlier in the trip saw him argue that the battle for hearts and minds in Afghanistan had already been lost, a claim Downing Street and Washington were quick to refute.
Meanwhile, devastating floods at home have led many commentators to lambaste his presence in Britain at a time of national crisis for Pakistan.
Mr Zardari arrived in Chequers last night for an informal private dinner but did not stay the night. He returned this morning for formal talks.
It appears the British prime minister was forced to eat a small measure of humble pie during the talks.
Mr Cameron “recognised the sacrifices made by Pakistan’s military, civil law enforcement agencies and people in fighting violent extremism and militancy and appreciated the efforts of the democratic government”, Downing Street said.
But President Zardari appeared equally keen to move on from the row, telling reporters during a press conference that “storms will come and storms will go but Pakistan and Britain will stand together and face all the difficulties with dignity.”
Mr Cameron, who described the relationship between the UK and Pakistan as “unbreakable”, seemed please with the new level of military and civilian cooperation promised at the meeting to fight the Taliban.
Immediately after the meeting Mr Cameron spoke to US President Barack Obama on the phone to update him on developments.
A visit by home secretary Theresa May to Pakistan has been tabled for the Autumn. Mr Cameron also accepted an invitation to visit the country.
The Pakistani foreign minister will meet foreign secretary William Hague in October.
The men also agreed to a yearly summit between the UK and Pakistan, and for Britain to help Pakistan gain access to European markets.
Mr Zardari had already met with shadow foreign secretary David Miliband, who accused Mr Cameron of substituting diplomacy for cheap headlines with his terrorism comments.
He also met with three ministers, Tory party chairman Baroness Warsi, considered by some to be the most powerful Muslim woman in the UK, home secretary Theresa May and education secretary Michael Gove.
The meetings were clouded in secrecy, however, with the government often failing to tell press even when they were taking place.
