British PM David Cameron greets Nawaz Sharif outside 10 Downing Street in central London. PHOTO: AFP
Describing Pakistan’s enemy as his enemy, British Prime Minister David Cameron said on Wednesday that “Pakistan’s progress is in the interest of the world”.
He made the remark in a meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at 10 Downing Street on Wednesday. The Pakistani premier is visiting the United Kingdom on the invitation of his British counterpart.
Cameron warmly welcomed his Pakistani counterpart and reiterated UK’s all-out support to Islamabad in its pursuit to strengthen its economy and carry out socio-economic development. He also backed the Pakistani government’s efforts to combat terrorism and extremism.
Pakistan is fully committed to eliminating terrorism from its soil, Premier Nawaz reiterated during the meeting.
“Pakistan has suffered a lot due to the menace of terrorism and extremism, and is determined to tackle it,” he told the British premier. “We are fully committed to eliminating terrorism and will never allow the use of Pakistan’s territory against any country, including Afghanistan.”
Premier Nawaz also recalled Cameron’s visit to Pakistan last year. “I am here to reciprocate the sentiments expressed by David Cameron for Pakistan during his visit,” he said.
He also appreciated the continued support and assistance of UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) for Pakistan and said the people of the country were grateful to it.
The two leaders also discussed the current level of bilateral ties in various areas, including trade and economy, and renewed their commitment to further strengthen these relations.
Britain’s Secretary of Defence Philip Hammond also called upon Prime Minister Nawaz to discuss matters pertaining to counter terrorism strategies and defence cooperation. They also exchanged views on the situation in the region following the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan. Premier Nawaz shared Pakistan’s stance on Afghanistan, particularly following the presidential elections in the country, with Hammond as well.
The prime minister is scheduled to meet UK’s Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, Foreign Secretary William Hague and Home Minister Theresa May along with Peter Sands, the Group CEO of Standard Chartered Bank, today (Thursday).
Published in The Express Tribune, May 1st, 2014.
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Cameron will say anything that suits his country's economic agenda. I dont blame him for that. Pakistanis may not read too much into his words for a few moons ago the same Cameron had accused Pakistan of terror acts from the soil of its arch enemy. SO much for Cameron and his hand of friendship.
@Rana Pratap Singh: Reading from the older posts, this is the first sensible one..
@Khurram:
This is not the first time that David Cameron has put his foot in the mouth! Pakistan biggest enemy has been its own people and its rulers! This is what the British Prime Minister had in his mind which he could have said it diplomaticaly. Illetracy and Poverty are the biggest challenge for the people of the Indo-Pak subcontinent.
Rex Minor
With "friends" like Khawaja Asif and Saad Rafiq, who needs enemies??
One more from 2011.
http://paknews1947.wordpress.com/2011/05/26/pakistans-enemy-is-our-enemy-david-cameron/
Well, I remember Mr. Cameron telling the same to The former PM. What has changed?
Here's the link: http://www.firstpost.com/world/your-enemies-are-our-enemies-cameron-cosies-up-to-pakistan-623736.html
PM Cameron is obviously referring to Taliban, and Pakistan's struggle to eliminate them. That is the bigger threat that Pakistan is facing, as well, as UK, which has seen such menace in the 2007 London Train atta-ck, which was carried out by same extremists that threaten Pakistan....
Joke. I think Mr Cameron had not realised that Pakistan within Pakistan is its enemy. You see that everyday. Then is Pakistan Britains enemy ? So friends are in fact enemies. Are both the enemies are innocent. Or are they smart enough to conceal the enmity by a show of friendship. Mr Cameron you can write comics.
Since the days of Margaret Thatcher, Britain had raised legions of Mujahideen to battle in Kashmir. Birmingham (where Malala is ironically settled) is one of the top recruitment grounds for the Kashmiri freedom struggle.
Cameron is definitely saying that India is an enemy of the UK
Cameron to Nawaz ...."wana come in for a night cap "....
@V. C. Bhutani: It is people like you who give India a bad name ...you give three cheers to a murderous organisation sworn to attack India after the conquest of Pakistan is complete ..as per their agenda ... ...have you lost your mind .?
The story's caption is weak and even appears somewhat irrelevant to the overall theme discussed in this piece. Firstly, the British PM will NEVER refer to India as an "enemy". That is sacrilege under Commonwealth niceties considering that India is one of the leading members of this body. Secondly, British industry and trade is heavily dependent on interaction with the huge Indian market; indeed, Britain is one of the top destinations of both Indian tourists and investors. Thirdly, if you read the piece carefully, the reference, if this is correctly reported, is to the disruptive forces within Pakistan that are described as Pakistan's "enemies". Of course, given the character of unverified media reporting that is notorious in Pakistan, the gullible readers are likely interpret the news report (I have yet to see any reporting in the British media itself about the "enemy" aspect of Cameron's talk with Nawaz Sharif!) as a reference to India which is hardly plausible and intended.
When the English East India Company was expanding in India in the 19th century it used to enter into agreements with Indian rulers (nawabs and maharajas) which described the Indian rulers as 'friends of the friends of the East India Company and enemy of the enemy of the East India Company' - but not the other way round. The British prime minister has used familiar terminology from history. Besides, he will do well to remember that not so long ago he (Cameron), along with the then president (Sarkozy) of France, said that 70% of global terror was traceable to Pakistan. He seems to believe that Pakistan has been exerting itself to eliminate terror from Pakistan. Three cheers for Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan. V. C. Bhutani, Edinburgh, 1 May 2014, 1123 GMT
It does mean that not only India, but also Israel are enemies to both Pak and UK. With this statement, Nawaz Sheriff filled with stomach full happiness and returned with empty handed. Pak ministers go anywhere, the first combined statement will be to cooperate with each other to fight terrorism. There are no other issues foreign powers are interested in Pakistan.
It is encouraging to know that the Britain is on our side against India,. Sincerely hope President. Obama also makes a similar statement
Referring to India?
@Mard-e-Haq: Does this mean India is NO:1 ENEMY of UK?"" ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ No the Brit PM was hinting at Saudi Arabia.
I am glad that Britain finally realizes that India is its enemy as well.
Excellent statement by British PM but how will British PM will prove it true and practically applicable in the future if in case Pakistan faces any aggression from India and if this is so then why British PM doesn't forbid India from shelling and firing on the posts of Pakistan on LoC?????
The same prime minister who criticised Pakistan on every step.
Must not trust western leaders, they have their own agends and motives, only nice when they have their itnerests being served.
@Anjaan, I think you dont know how much British have tried to come close to India and work against Pakistan? The all out trade trips? It is India which gave a cold response to British. And read some history, India is not the reason why the emipire collapsed, world war 1 was.
@Anjaan That is just political statement. However let the Modi come in Power..........
Friends in the top ten list of Pakistans enemies, India is probably number eleven. So Indians need not to worry
Does this mean India is NO:1 ENEMY of UK?
as long as it is not our enemy, in that case, we will amend this statement
The people of India have never had any doubts about covert British agenda to extract revenge on India, once the crown jewel in the empire, and also the reason for the collapse of the empire. Britain has been consistently working against India for many decades on all major issues including Kashmir. However the facade of normal friendly relations was always maintained.
India is the only enemy that the people of Pakistan have ... does that mean Britain has come out in open against India now ... ?