By IANS,
London : Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari will be doing some “plain talking” when he meets British Prime Minister David Cameron and has a mind to “put him straight” over the remark that Islamabad was exporting terror.
A senior Pakistani official said that Zardari plans to “put him (Cameron) straight” when he meets him at a summit at Chequers Friday. Chequers is the official country residence of the British prime minister in Buckinghamshire.
“David Cameron has been doing some plain talking. Now Zardari will be doing the plain talking. We have to tell him (Cameron) what the reality is, to educate him about what we have suffered, and that if we are not supported at this time, how things will get worse,” The Guardian Tuesday quoted the official as saying.
The official said the Pakistani president would tell Cameron to be “more forthright in supporting (Pakistani) democracy and more careful in what he says, especially in countries like India that are very hostile”.
During his India visit, Cameron July 28 warned Pakistan against exporting terrorism to India, Afghanistan or anywhere else in the world.
Cameron said: “We want to see a strong, stable and democratic Pakistan, but we cannot tolerate in any sense export of terrorism, whether to India, Afghanistan or anywhere in the world.”
The Pakistani official was of the opinion that the timing of the remark showed how Cameron had been “taken in” by the Indians.
“Cameron was enamoured by so-called Indian democracy and attractive markets – he was suckered by the Indians.”
The official, however, observed that the row could be defused and there would be no lasting damage.
“The president believes the dialogue must continue,” he said.
Cameron, on his part, has refused to apologise for his comment that Islamabad is “exporting terror”.
Daily Mail Monday quoted a government source as saying that Cameron would not apologise for his outspoken remarks and added: “No, he said it and he meant it.”
Pakistan reacted last week by cancelling a meeting on terrorism cooperation.
Pakistan’s Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira had told reporters that President Zardari would present Cameron with “the facts on the ground” during their Friday meeting.
“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. We hope that the new leadership over here, when they get the exact picture, will agree with us.”