Cameron warns Pak on exporting terror: You can’t look both ways

He said the relationship with Pakistan is important but the clear message from the US and UK is that countries cannot have relations with groups promoting terror. He said he had discussed this issue with US President Barack Obama and the Pentagon and would discuss it with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during meetings Thursday.

He was replying to a query on whether the US and UK needed to rethink on Pakistan in the light of Internet leaks of documents revealing its double-speak on terror.

(Appearing on Radio 4 after his speech,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,” Guardian reported.

His remarks drew an angry response from Pakistan which said it had done more than other nations in combating terror. “Our people and security forces have rendered innumerable sacrifices. We hope that our friends will be able to persuade India to view this issue objectively and the value of cooperation in counter-terrorism,” PTI quoted Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit as saying.)

Cameron called for closer cooperation with India on counter-terrorism and sharing of information in the run-up to the Commonwealth Games and London Olympics.

“We,like you,are determined that groups like the Taliban,the Haqqani network or Lashkar-e-Toiba 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,” he said.

Cameron promised to lift the bruised British economy by taking ties with India to the next level.

Saying his 58-member delegation was on a “jobs mission”,he called for “stronger,wider,deeper” ties across sectors — information technology,infrastructure,retail,defence,education,telecommunication and counter-terrorism.

“This is a trade mission,yes,but I prefer to see it as my jobs mission. Indian companies employ 90,000 people in the UK. Many more jobs in Britain exist thanks to the activities of British companies in India. Now I want to see thousands more jobs created in Britain,and of course in India through trade… That is the core purpose of my visit,” he said.

“I want this to be a relationship which drives economic growth upwards,and drives our unemployment figures downwards,” he said.

He said his new coalition was reviewing technology outsourcing contracts awarded by the previous Labour government in terms of cost and value on account of the flailing economy but asserted that Britain remained among the “most open,globalised economies” in Europe.