British PM makes speech in Bangalore that comes close to endorsing the Indian government's view that the authorities in Pakistan have a hand in exporting terrorism
Nicholas Watt in Bangalore
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 28 July 2010 09.09 BST
David Cameron gives a speech in Bangalore, India
David Cameron risked provoking a diplomatic row with Pakistan today when he came close to accusing Islamabad of exporting terrorism.
In a speech to Indian business leaders in Bangalore, the prime minister spoke of his horror when terrorists attacked Mumbai in 2008, for which Delhi blamed the Pakistani authorities.
Cameron said he had discussed the terror threat from Pakistan with the US president, Barack Obama last week. He will also discuss it tomorrow in Delhi with Manmohan Singh, the Indian prime minister.
He came near to endorsing India's view when he said: "We cannot tolerate in any sense the idea that this country is allowed to look both ways and is able, in any way, to promote the export of terror, whether to India or whether to Afghanistan or anywhere else in the world.
"That is why this relationship is important. It should be a relationship based on a very clear message: that it is not right to have any relationship with groups that are promoting terror. Democratic states that want to be part of the developed world cannot do that. The message to Pakistan from the US and the UK is very clear on that point."
Britain has spoken in the past of the terror threat that emerges from Pakistan. Gordon Brown said that a majority of terror threat to Britain emerged from the border areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan.
But the prime minister's language this morning suggested that he was coming close to endorsing the Indian view that the authorities in Pakistan have a hand in the terror. The leaked military documents from Afghanistan this week suggested that Pakistan's ISI has encouraged the Taliban.
The prime minister stood by his remarks when he appeared on Radio 4's Today programme this morning a few minutes after delivering his speech. "The point I was simply making in response to a question is we have to be clear in our dealings with the Pakistanis, as we are and as the Americans are, that it is unacceptable for any support to be given from within Pakistan for any terrorist organisations that export terror."
Asked whether Pakistan exports terrorism, Cameron said: "I choose my words very carefully, which is that it is unacceptable for anything to happen within Pakistan that is about supporting terrorism elsewhere.
"It is well documented that that has been the case in the past and it is an issue that we have to make sure that the Pakistan authorities are not looking two ways. They must only look one way and that is to a democratic and stable Pakistan that can have good relations with a democratic and stable Afghanistan."
Asked again whether there are elements in Pakistani intelligence that support terrorism, he said: "I have said what I've said. But to be fair there has been big progress in Pakistan in terms of targeting terror and terrorists in Pakistan."
The prime minister told his audience in India that Britain and India have been united in suffering from terrorism which originates in Pakistan.
"Five years ago, 52 people were killed on the tube and on a bus in London," Cameron said. "In November 2008, we watched in horror as terrorists went on the rampage in Mumbai, killing scores of Indians and three British nationals. As you know, we worked with your government in the investigation into these events. We remain determined that those responsible must be brought to justice.
"We like you are determined that groups like the Taliban, the Haqqani network or Lakshar e Taiba should not be allowed to launch attacks on Indian and British citizens in India or in Britain. Nor against our people, whether soldiers or civilians, from both our countries who are working for peace in Afghanistan."
A Downing Street spokeswoman said that the prime minister was not accusing the Pakistan government of exporting terrorism.
"The prime minister is not saying the Pakistan government is a sponsor of terrorism. But he is saying, and has said previously, that the Pakistan government needs to do more to shut terror groups down."
But No 10 declined to say whether other elements of the Pakistan state the ISI service or the military export terrorism. Cameron said in his Today programme interview that he was choosing his words carefully because Britain believes there is a distinction between the government of Pakistan and some state agencies.
Pakistan must not be allowed to promote export of terror, says David Cameron | World news | guardian.co.uk
David Cameron: Pakistan is promoting the export of terror
David Cameron has risked inflaming international relations after suggesting Pakistan is promoting the export of terror in Afghanistan and around the world.
David Cameron: Pakistan is promoting the ‘export of terror’ - Telegraph
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