Pakistani President To Meet Britain's Cameron

Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari has said he will address recent remarks by British Prime Minister David Cameron seen as suggesting that Pakistan has not been doing enough to combat militant groups inside Pakistan.

Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari is due to have formal talks with British Prime Minister David Cameron.

Zardari and Cameron met for a private dinner on August 5 at Cameron's official country residence, Chequers.

The dinner was described as an informal celebration in honor of Zardari's late wife Benazir Bhutto, the former Pakistani prime minister who was assassinated in Pakistan in 2007.


The official talks August 6 were expected to focus on repairing a diplomatic row that broke out between Islamabad and London after Cameron last week, on a visit to India, said some "elements" in Pakistan were allowing the "export" of Islamic terrorism -- comments seen as suggesting Pakistan has not been doing enough to combat militant groups.

Pakistan's intelligence chief cancelled a planned trip to Britain in protest of the remarks, while Zardari has said he intends to explain to Cameron about the sacrifices Pakistanis have been making in the battle against extremists.

A spokesman for Cameron said the British prime minister was planning to use the meetings with Zardari to reinforce what he described as the "strong links" between Britain and Pakistan and efforts to "support stability, security, democracy and prosperity in Pakistan."

The Pakistani president's visit to Britain, and to France earlier in the week, has faced criticism from some in Pakistan for continuing with the foreign trip while Pakistan struggles with flooding in its northwestern region that has killed more than 1,600 people and affected 4 million.

compiled from agency reports