Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf shakes hands with his British counterpart David Cameron at 10 Downing Street in central London. PHOTO: AFP
LONDON:
In an unusual show of warmth in his country’s relation with Pakistan, British Prime Minister David Cameron told his Pakistani counterpart on Monday, “your friends are our friends, and your enemies are our enemies.”
Speaking to journalists after a meeting at 10 Downing Street, Cameron also spoke about the rollercoaster relationship between Pakistan and India, saying “there was a need [for the two nations] to open up the market to harvest economic bonuses”.
About the Afghan conundrum, Cameron hailed the recent trilateral summit in London where he, President Asif Ali Zardari and Afghan leader Hamid Karzai renewed the call for ultraorthodox Taliban militia to renounce violence and come to the negotiating table.
Pakistan has a pivotal and constructive role to play in the region, the British premier said, adding that he would visit Islamabad this summer to carry the process forward.
The two premiers discussed Pakistan-Britain bilateral relations, the withdrawal of Nato troops from Afghanistan by 2014 and relations between Pakistan and India. Matters of national and international importance also figured at the talks.
Appreciating his British counterpart’s efforts on working for a peaceful transition in Afghanistan, PM Ashraf reiterated that a peaceful and stable neighbour was in his country’s interests.
Islamabad, he said, was working closely with the Afghan High Peace Council so that all stakeholders, including the Afghan Taliban were on board to bring durable peace to the war-torn country.
He stressed the need to train and equip Afghan security forces during the transition period to handle the responsibility of maintaining security.
Expressing satisfaction over bilateral relations between the two countries, Premiers Ashraf and Cameron said they were looking forward to enhancing cooperation in various fields, particularly for the Afghan transition.
The Pakistani premier also briefed Cameron on the investment opportunities available in Pakistan and the economic reforms and policies initiated by his government to attract investors.
Ashraf also thanked the British premier for his country’s support in helping Pakistan secure the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) Plus status from the European Union and said it had proved it to be a true friend and ally of Pakistan.
GSP is a trade programme designed to promote economic growth in the developing world by providing preferential duty-free entry for up to 4,800 products from 129 designated beneficiary countries and territories.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 13th, 2013.
COMMENTS (31)
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Your enemy is my enemy - How Long ?
The news is about warming relations b/w Pakistan and England and all I see is comments from Indians almost whining. I don't understand the Pakistan obsession.
Thank you Cameron for standing with Pakistan in the time of need :)
Well said PM Cameron, thank you for reminding India that Pakistan is not as friendless as they would like, and for recognizing the threat India poses not just to Pakistan but to the rest of the world.
Was he talking about PPP, MQM, PML-N, Qadri, ANP or TTP? Who is our enemy these days?
Pakistan's friendship is now slightly higher than the Himalayas and slightly deeper than the oceans. Wink Wink:) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
All you naysayers most of whom would love to go to the UK for vacations, work or studies, Britain has historically always stood by Pakistan. There would have been no Pakistan if it wasn't for the British. Don't forget that. And don't forget Queen Elizabeth's ride through Lahore in an open top car in the 60's standing up and waving to the cheering crowds. And the late Princess Diana's multiple trips to Pakistan for humanitarian development work efforts including Shaukat Khanum Hospital. Learn to respect your friends. They have their own relationship with India which is none of our business to be honest.
We in Pakistan do not even know who our enemies are, and who our friends are. At the start of P.P.P. tenure of this government, in order to extract money from others, the government made certain countries "Friends of Pakistan" essentially to milch them. No country fell for this silly trick. Now we have turned 180 degrees, to decide who our enemies are?. Next we decide who are the clowns and who are the jokers. God help the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
" British premier says he will visit Islamabad this summer." +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Obama said he will visit but never did Putin followed suit Even Morsi failed to turn up. British Premier...will he?
what was the purpose of rental's visit exactly. the same could have been said without his presence in UK. reckless spending of money.
I assume that he meant that Pakistan is its own biggest enemy.
Mr Camaron you are correct UR enemy is my enemy...and he is standing next to U
Can someone post a link from any UK news outlets? I do not see this statement anywhere except on Pakistani websites.
so india is enemy of UK by this logic
And who is "looking bothways" now ???
As the Govt's term comes to a close ++++++++++++++++++++++ More and more Leaders from Pakistan want to visit London. Musharraf also did the same. What could be the reason?:)
" British premier says he will visit Islamabad this summer." +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Hopefully by then a new non PPP Govrt would be in office!
Zardari discusses Afghanistan with Cameron in London Ashraf discusses Afghanistan with Cameron in London Why is the FM Ms Khar not doing the same? Oh ok next week:) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The discussions are hugely helped by the presence of Harrods in London.
How Little do Mr Cameron's word Mean ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ He is the same PM who during a visit to India in Aug 2010 said, that Pakistan was “exporting terror” in the region and “looking both ways” in dealing with militants.
Hey David you are shaking hands with a criminal who was supposed to be behind the bars on the orders of our legendary Taja Hawaldar!!!
so UK and India are enemies now?
Did the UK Visit also provide the Paki PM an opportunity to look up his London properties? ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Financed thru his Rental Power Project ' earnings' ?
From hereon, US is enemy no 1 for England and India is enemy no 2 for England. TTP is their strategic assets. What a joke.
and behind the door he said, " our enemy is your enemy"
Stick didnt work, time for carrots.
I am sure he meant TTP here! Don't read too much into it. The enemies list of PAK are: US, Israel, India, AFG, and TTP. So by subtracting the rest who are friends of UK, it leaves only TTP. Unless, there are new names in that list we do not know about!
Our Enemy is corruption, ill governance, and self oriented artificially left leaned people of Pakistan.. Yours?
I will advise the British PM to put as much distance between himself and the Pakistani PM as possible. "Your enemy is my enemy .... " - the Americans had a bad experience with a similar arrangement.