President Asif Ali Zardari "snubbed" Gordon Brown by pulling out of a planned press conference with the British Premier in Islamabad soon after the Labour leader branded Pakistan the "crucible of terrorism",media reports said on Tuesday. Just hours after making the remark,Brown was "humiliatingly snubbed" when Zardari pulled out of the press conference in Islamabad on Monday,the Daily Express newspaper reported. President Zardaris move to pull out of the event follows outrage over the arrest in Britain of 11 Pakistani men linked to an alleged "major terrorist plot",the report said. Tension marked the diplomatic ties between the two countries following the British prime minister's remarks disparaging Pakistan for not doing enough against terrorism. According to the Pakistani daily The Nation,"deepening divisions between the two countries were exposed when President Zardari pulled out of a planned press meet with Brown". All 11 and one Briton linked to the alleged "major terrorist plot" were freed without charge after two weeks. Pakistani officials complained that British authorities had failed to fully consult them before the arrests,which could have avoided "embarrassing mistakes". The UK has stepped up pressure on Pakistan and presented a memorandum of understanding (mou) to Islamabad under which the UK will have the right to deport any Pakistani on the grounds that he or she has become a threat to national security without having to follow the due process,the Pakistani daily said. Zardari's "snub" follows British premier's announcement of a switch in anti-terror strategy,whereby greater effort will be directed towards the border with Pakistan,which he described as "a crucible for terrorism" responsible for fostering up to three-quarters of terror threats faced by the UK. "We know that three-quarters of the terrorist activities that happen in Britain arise from the areas around here. Therefore,the safety of people on the streets of Britain is immediately being safeguarded by the action being taken here," Brown said in Kabul on Monday. Brown,who was in Islamabad yesterday on a day-long visit after a whistle stop tour of Afghanistan,held his joint press conference with Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani instead of President Zardari as expected. A Pakistani media report had earlier indicated that Brown was expected to get a lukewarm reception amid the diplomatic row over the arrest of the Pakistani students in the UK. Gilani said he had taken up the issue with Brown as thousands of Pakistanis,including his two sons and President Zardaris children,were studying in Britain. While the law would take its own course,Gilani said he had requested Brown to allow the arrested persons to continue their studies. British officials played down the issue. "It is entirely appropriate that he has a press conference with his counterpart," 10 Downing Street spokesman said,adding no more "should be read into it". Brown and Zardari met for a private meeting after the press conference in Islamabad. On his last visit to Pakistan in December,the two leaders had held a joint press meet.
