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Zardari Raises Cameron Remarks With Sarkozy In Paris

(RTTNews) - Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari, facing uncomfortable questions about his country's role in Afghanistan in the wake of the Wikileaks revelations, turned to France for support in talks Monday night with French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

During the meeting that focused on fighting terrorism and sharing intelligence, Zardari also raised the issue of British Prime Minister David Cameron's recent remarks accusing Islamabad of covertly backing the Taliban-led insurgency in Afghanistan, according to his office.

A statement issued by Zardari's office after the meeting said that it was "unfortunate" that some countries still had doubts over Pakistan's efforts against extremism.

"No other country in the international coalition has paid such a heavy price in this fight," the statement quoted Zardari, as saying.

"He said that Cameron's 'uncalled for remarks' and the fact that these were made in India had disappointed the people of Pakistan and it was all the more important that the president's visit to the U.K. went ahead as planned to raise this and other issues with the British prime minister," Zardari's spokesman said.

"David Cameron has been doing some plain talking. Now Zardari will be doing the plain talking," an official reportedly told The Guardian.

During his just-concluded visit to India, Cameron had said that Pakistan could not "look both ways" in receiving billions of dollars in aid from Western nations while continuing to "promote the export of terror, whether to India or Afghanistan or anywhere else in the world."

Cameron later defended his comments, and said: "I think it's important, as I say, to speak frankly about these things to countries that are your friends."

He said his remarks had not damaged relations with Pakistan and that he looked forward to discussing these and other issues with the Pakistani President.

Cameron's office insisted on Monday that the prime minister stood by his complaint, but made it clear that he was referring to elements with the Pakistani state and not to the policies of Zardari's government. The U.K. also ruled out an apology from Cameron.

Downing Street sources said the British leader will try to assuage Pakistan anger over his remarks by absolving the government of any blame for promoting extremism and violence but will not apologize or back away for accusing elements in Pakistan for "looking both ways" on terrorism.

Zardari's visit to France came as his government was coming under increasing criticism for its tardy handling of deadly flooding in the northwest of the country. The worst floods in eight decades have already killed up to 1,500 people and affected 2.5 million.

The Pakistani president is also facing accusations that he is using a meeting with Cameron--despite calls from some in Pakistan for him to cancel the visit--as a smokescreen for an attempt to shore up his political dynasty by addressing a rally in Birmingham to launch his son Bilawal Zardari's political career.

Bilawal, 21, an Oxford University graduate, is already the chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), but cannot stand for office until the age of 25.