Updated on
Summary
Pakistan High Commissioner to the UK Wajid Shamsul Hasan has said that British Prime Minister David Camerons assertions about Pakistans role in terrorism are completely contrary to the realities on the ground. In his comments appearing in The Guardian, he pointed out that Pakistan has made huge sacrifices in the war on terror yet the British premier has criticized his country based on intelligence leaks that lack credibility. I was surprised to read the reported remarks made by David Cameron when speaking to Indian businesspeople in Bangalore especially when he said: We cannot tolerate in any sense the idea that this country [Pakistan] is allowed to look both ways and is able, in any way, to promote the export of terror, whether to India or whether to Afghanistan or anywhere else in the world. These remarks are completely contrary to the realities on the ground, and are intended to embroil Pakistan in issues for which it cannot alone be held responsible, the High Commissioner remarked. Hasan noted that Camerons remarks have come soon after the leak of US military documents about the war in Afghanistan and the alleged involvement of Pakistans security institutions.The sacrifices endured by Pakistan are enormous. Since 2001 more than 2,700 members of the security forces have laid down their lives and more than 9,000 have been severely wounded. These figures far exceed the total casualties suffered by Nato allies in the region over the same period. He recalled that for the West, it may seem as though terrorism began on 9/11. But Pakistans experience started back when the Soviet troops occupied Afghanistan.
