UK to convey Pakistan's concern on terror cooperation to Barack Obama: British PM

ISLAMABAD: British Prime Minister David Cameron today informed his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani that he would convey to US President Islamabad's views on cooperation in the war on terror and the covert military raid that killed Osama bin Laden.

The issue figured when Cameron telephoned Gilani today to condole the killing of over 90 people in a suicide attack by Pakistani Taliban in Charsadda on Friday.

Gilani said "some people have accepted responsibility for the Charsadda incident, which was obviously a revenge attack in response to the killing of Osama bin Laden".

According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister's office, Gilani told Cameron that Pakistan could not be cowed down by such cowardly attacks and that his government's "main concern is about the sovereignty of the country".

He said, "We would never compromise on the honour and dignity of our people".

Pakistan is waging the war on terror in its own national interest and "this campaign enjoys ownerships of the Pakistani public", Gilani said.

Pakistan will continue its cooperation to eliminate terrorism to ensure global peace "yet respect of Pakistan's sovereignty should be observed", he added.

Gilani further said Pakistan is committed to work with the world to eradicate terrorism and "the world should also take care of our national interests".

UK premier Cameron said British acknowledges Pakistan's sacrifices and appreciates its role in the war against terror.

He informed Gilani that US President Barrack Obama is scheduled to visit Britain next week and he (Caemron) would "convey Pakistan's point of view to the American President".

Acknowledging the political difficulties of the Pakistan government, Cameron assured Gilani of his country's full support.

Faced with mounting public criticism for both the failure to detect bin Laden's presence in the country and the military's lack of awareness of the US raid that killed the Al Qaida chief, the Pakistan government has condemned the operation as a violation of the country's sovereignty.

Gilani told parliament last week that Pakistan would retaliate with "full force" if the US carries out a similar operation in future.