Zardari in Britain amid Pak floods
Tue, 03 Aug 2010 07:37:11 GMT


Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari has arrived in Britain for talks with the British Prime Minister David Cameron amid his accusations that Islamabad is exporting terrorism.

The two leaders are expected to hold talks on Friday against the backdrop of fury in Pakistan where protesters burned an effigy of Cameron in response to his recent comments that Pakistan must not be allowed to "promote the export of terror whether to India, whether to Afghanistan or to anywhere else in the world," Associated Press reported.

The remarks have come under harsh criticism from Pakistani officials with Wajid Shamsul Hasan, Pakistan's ambassador to Britain, denouncing the comments "an immature reaction from an immature politician."

Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Monday summoned the British High Commissioner over the incisive comments.

However, Downing Street touted "very good, strong relations" with Pakistan, adding that Cameron "stands by" his comments and would not apologize to Zardari on his visit.

Zardari's visit comes as Pakistan is plagued by its worst floods for 80 years.

Meanwhile, some British lawmakers of Pakistani origin said they would refuse to meet Zardari in London, arguing that the president should be in Pakistan at the time of a still-unfolding flood disaster, which has claimed the lives of at least 1,300 people and displaced over 2,500 million.

"No matter what he can do or can't do, he should be there to try to support the people, not swanning around in the UK and France," said Labor Party lawmaker Khalid Mahmood.

On Sunday, Zardari met French President Nicolas Sarkozy at the Elysee Palace on Sunday in the first day of his five-day European trip.

Sarkozy called on his Pakistani counterpart to crank up the country's campaign against terrorism.

HA/MMA

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