Bangalore: Sending a "very clear message" to
Pakistan, British Prime Minister David Cameron on Wednesday warned
that country against promoting any "export of terror", whether
to India or elsewhere, and said it must not be allowed to
"look both ways".
Cameron also said that it is not right for Pakistan to
have any relationship with groups that are promoting terror,
in comments seen as endorsing India`s stand.
"We cannot tolerate in any sense the idea that this
country(Pakistan) 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," he
said.
Cameron, who began his maiden visit to India after
assuming office, made these remarks while talking to newsmen
and in his address at the IT major Infosys campus in the
outskirts of the city during a trip to Bangalore. He is due to
hold official talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New
Delhi tomorrow.
Cameron said "It`s unacceptable for anything to happen
within Pakistan that`s about supporting terrorism elsewhere.
And it`s well documented that that has been the case in
the past."
Cameron`s remarks came against the backdrop of US
documents leaked to Internet whistleblower site WikiLeaks
accusing Pakistan`s powerful Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)
of secretly helping the Afghan insurgency while the coutnry
took billions of aid to fight terror.
He said there had been "big progress" by Pakistan in
fighting militant groups "but we need to see that progress
continue."
Cameron said he is going to discuss with Singh the
"leakage" of funds given to Pakistan by the US and UK.
He also said that Britain like India wants a Pakistan
that is stable, democratic and free from terror.
"We should be very, very clear with Pakistan that we
want to see a strong, stable and democratic Pakistan,"
Cameron also spoke about the contours of a future
UK-Pakistan relationship in the wake of the WikiLeaks expose.
"It should be a relationship based on a very clear
message: that it is not right to have any relationship with
groups that are promoting terror," he said.
"Democratic states that want to be part of the
developed world cannot do that. The message to Pakistan from
the U.S. and the UK is very clear on that point," he added.
Cameron also pitched for closer security relationship
between India and Britain saying the two countries must meet
the challenge of ensuring global security.
He said Britain like India was determined that groups
like the Taliban, the Haqqani network or Lakshar-e-Taiba
should not be allowed to launch attacks on Indian and British
citizens in India or in Britain.
"Our interests are your interests ? so let?s work
together to realise them," he said.
He referred to the terror strikes five years ago in
Britain in which 52 people were killed on the tube and on a
bus in London and the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, killing
scores of Indians and three British nationals.
Stating that Britain worked with Indian government in
investigations, he said "we remain determined that those
responsible must be brought to justice."
"And I am here today to propose an even closer security
relationship between India and Britain," he added.
PTI
