Pakistan

Politically incorrect: Pakistan summons French, German diplomats

Foreign Office protests over Sarkozy and Merkel's statements denouncing Islamabad.

Kamran Yousaf December 14, 2010

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday reacted angrily to remarks by the top leaders of two key European countries, in which they accused Islamabad of using terror to extract political mileage.

The strong statements about Pakistan by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy prompted the Foreign Office to summon the German and French envoys to express displeasure.

“The Foreign Office conveyed the government and the people of Pakistan’s disappointment separately to the Ambassador of France and the German Charge d’ Affaires in Islamabad over the reported remarks by President Nicolas Sarkozy and Chancellor Angela Merkel relating to Pakistan, following their meeting with the Indian prime minister in New Delhi and Berlin, respectively,” said an official handout.

Merkel reportedly asked Pakistan not to use terror as a means to seek an end to a political problem at a press conference during the recently concluded visit by the Indian prime minister to Berlin.

Separately during a visit to India, French President Sarkozy had accused Pakistan of allowing ‘safe havens’ to extremists in its tribal border areas and said it was ‘unacceptable’ that terror networks could find refuge in Pakistan and use it as a springboard to attack India, French troops in Afghanistan or other countries.

The Foreign Office statement said Pakistan was surprised and disappointed at the remarks by the two leaders.

“Both France and Germany are well aware of the great sacrifices being rendered by Pakistan in the ongoing fight against terrorism. Therefore, incriminating Pakistan in the context of terrorism is unjustified and uncalled for,” it added.

Responding to the demarche, the German charge d’ affaires said the chancellor’s remarks had been misquoted. Chancellor Merkel had outlined the general principles of Germany’s counterterrorism policy and her remarks were not Pakistan-specific, he assured.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 14^th, 2010.

COMMENTS (11)

M.Srinath | 13 years ago | Reply What is politically incorrect? The act of summoning or the statement of Merkel!

SKChadha | 13 years ago | Reply UK, US, France, Germany as also European Union, all are fed up with double game played by Pakistani establishments and now came out in open. The issue which was taken up with Pakistan behind the closed doors, is slowly becoming open to the world? As I said earlier, the indirect speech of the world is slowly turning into direct speech and leakages from closed door are coming out loudly. I do not know what strategic depth is left with Pakistan to go on feeding such terrorists. Remember, now a days it is not Afghanistan or India but the citizenary of Pakistan which is suffering most from such strategic assets. I am waiting for Chinese reaction …!!! God forbid even if they also speak in same tone tomorrow, what will be left with Pakistan, other than shame.

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Rehan | 13 years ago | Reply @Nazir, toughness in a nation's foreign policy comes from its economic strength. stand-up on your own feet, make pakistan a strong prosperous nation and the whole world will respect you, listen to you. look towards your east, india was an economically weak nation a few years ago and not many of the western contries cared much about it but as it has transformed its economy and focused on growth, the world is realizing its financial strength and coming to its doors to get some benefits themselves. Lesson, Money speaks! Want to see more proof, never in the history of the world have all the 5 permanent members of UN have lined-up to visit a country as they have in the past 6 months at India's doors. If pakistan's government can see beyond their foggy glasses, they will stop crying like a spolit brat and do something for the development of this nation of pure. Else, the rest of the world move on and won't care a bit about what Pakistan has to say...

G. Din | 13 years ago | Reply @Critic "...They dont even care when foreign solders and drones come into our territory and violate our soverignity. " Ask yourself a commonsense question: why is Pakistan the only nation in the whole wide world thus treated? The answer: Pakistan is worse case of headache to the world. "Violate our sovereignty"? What sovereignty? You do not have any control over vast swathes of your own territory by your own admission. If you cannot do the job yourself and show results, others are forced to come in with their resources (drones etc.) and do the job for you. You should be appreciating such gestures instead of getting all worked up. If you do not want others to come in, exercise, if you are capable, your own sovereignty!

Kamal | 13 years ago | Reply Mr Critic..When Pakistani themself does not care about there soverignity then how you expect some other country to do so.We all know what Pakistani PM said about drone attacks.First you respect yourself then expect others to respect you.

Critic | 13 years ago | Reply @Cautious.....no you're wrong. These guys will never 'have enough.' They dont even care when foreign solders and drones come into our territory and violate our soverignity. They will just cry to 'appease' the public and retreat back into their daydream offices

Shahid Ashraf | 13 years ago | Reply The remarks might be wrong diplomatically (I don't know about diplomacy) but they are not incorrect... Terrorism is being supported by sections in our army and in general public particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and parts of Punjab. We've heard many times from all corners of Pakistan about "good" Taliban and "bad" Taliban... Even worse, most political leaders particularly form "religious" political parties have never condemn the terrorist acts by Taliban within Pakistan let alone in Afganistan.

Cautious | 13 years ago | Reply The fact that these leaders are saying publicly what they have always said privately maybe a sign that they have had enough of the two faced policies of Pakistan.

Critic | 13 years ago | Reply Our Foreign Affairs Office is more like a crying department

Rizwan | 13 years ago | Reply “Indian proving itself as “cruel enemy” by using their economy influence at every forum to malign Pakistan, thus leaving lesson for our proven corrupt leaders who have put the country at the top of beggars list. “Beggars can not be chooser”

Nazir Habib | 13 years ago | Reply Summoning the envoys to the Foreign Office, is it enough ? Or are we following the diplomatic pathway established by the west. If this is how things are done then the west is guffawing at our expense. The west has given Pakistan nothing but political headaches. There is no toughness in our foreign policy and economic outlays. So the results and fallout are before you. Look within yourselves and therein lies the answer. Salams and best wishes.

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