http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/7921144/Pakistan-Army-encouraging-Cameron-protests.html
Pakistan Army 'encouraging Cameron protests'
Allies of Pakistans president have accused the Army of encouraging street protests, in which effigies of David Cameron were burned by Islamic militants, as part of a campaign to sabotage his planned visit to Britain this week.
By Dean Nelson and Javed Siddiq in Islamabad
Published: 9:00PM BST 01 Aug 201
Friends of Asif Zardari said he has come under intense pressure from military chiefs to cancel his visit since British Prime Minister David Cameron accused Islamabad of promoting international terrorism during a trip to India last week.
Mr Cameron won many friends in India, when he said Pakistan could not be allowed to look both ways in the war on terrorism or promote the export of terror to other countries. But his comments caused widespread anger in Pakistan where conservative Islamic political parties led public protests and the prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani complained he had overlooked Pakistans sacrifices in the fight against Taliban militants.
Sources close to Mr Zardari said Mr Camerons comments had sparked a campaign by senior army figures who want him to cancel his visit to meet the Prime Minister at Chequers next week.
The head of the ISI intelligence agency Lt. Gen Ahmed Shujaa Pasha, had earlier cancelled a delegation of senior officials to meet their security counterparts in London.
The ISI cancellation is a signal of their displeasure and that they do not want him [Zardari] to go, said a friend of the president. The army sends these signals and then the demonstrators are on the streets.
Mr Zardari has appeared increasingly isolated over his determination to press ahead with the visit amid calls from both opposition leaders and his own coalition allies to cancel. Shabbaz Sharif, chief minister of Punjab province and a leader of the main opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz was joined by Altaf Hussein, the leader of the coalitions MQM party in urging the president to abandon the visit.
Mt Camerons comments, and the fact that they were made during his visit to regional enemy India had weakened President Zardaris position and strengthened the hand of Islamic militants, said the source.
It gave a boost to the Taliban and all these militant organisations. They say it shows that these countries, Britain and America, are not our friends, that they are harming rather than helping. Having suffered so much in the war against terrorism, civilian and military casualties, and on top of that we get this kick up the backside from Cameron, he added.
Despite intense pressure from his army chiefs, opponents and coalition partners, President Zardari is going ahead with the planned visit, which aides said he will now use to explain Pakistans position and seek an expression of appreciation for the countrys sacrifices.
Retired Lt Col Talat Masood said the armys dignity had been offended by Mr Camerons comments, but that while it feels obliged to cancel the visit of its ISI leaders to register its anger, long-term co-operation in the fight against terrorism will continue. He said: The interests of both countries are so intertwined that this cant continue for more than a short period, things will normalise after they apply some balm.
Pakistan Army 'encouraging Cameron protests'
Allies of Pakistans president have accused the Army of encouraging street protests, in which effigies of David Cameron were burned by Islamic militants, as part of a campaign to sabotage his planned visit to Britain this week.
By Dean Nelson and Javed Siddiq in Islamabad
Published: 9:00PM BST 01 Aug 201
Friends of Asif Zardari said he has come under intense pressure from military chiefs to cancel his visit since British Prime Minister David Cameron accused Islamabad of promoting international terrorism during a trip to India last week.
Mr Cameron won many friends in India, when he said Pakistan could not be allowed to look both ways in the war on terrorism or promote the export of terror to other countries. But his comments caused widespread anger in Pakistan where conservative Islamic political parties led public protests and the prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani complained he had overlooked Pakistans sacrifices in the fight against Taliban militants.
Sources close to Mr Zardari said Mr Camerons comments had sparked a campaign by senior army figures who want him to cancel his visit to meet the Prime Minister at Chequers next week.
The head of the ISI intelligence agency Lt. Gen Ahmed Shujaa Pasha, had earlier cancelled a delegation of senior officials to meet their security counterparts in London.
The ISI cancellation is a signal of their displeasure and that they do not want him [Zardari] to go, said a friend of the president. The army sends these signals and then the demonstrators are on the streets.
Mr Zardari has appeared increasingly isolated over his determination to press ahead with the visit amid calls from both opposition leaders and his own coalition allies to cancel. Shabbaz Sharif, chief minister of Punjab province and a leader of the main opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz was joined by Altaf Hussein, the leader of the coalitions MQM party in urging the president to abandon the visit.
Mt Camerons comments, and the fact that they were made during his visit to regional enemy India had weakened President Zardaris position and strengthened the hand of Islamic militants, said the source.
It gave a boost to the Taliban and all these militant organisations. They say it shows that these countries, Britain and America, are not our friends, that they are harming rather than helping. Having suffered so much in the war against terrorism, civilian and military casualties, and on top of that we get this kick up the backside from Cameron, he added.
Despite intense pressure from his army chiefs, opponents and coalition partners, President Zardari is going ahead with the planned visit, which aides said he will now use to explain Pakistans position and seek an expression of appreciation for the countrys sacrifices.
Retired Lt Col Talat Masood said the armys dignity had been offended by Mr Camerons comments, but that while it feels obliged to cancel the visit of its ISI leaders to register its anger, long-term co-operation in the fight against terrorism will continue. He said: The interests of both countries are so intertwined that this cant continue for more than a short period, things will normalise after they apply some balm.
