Pakistan anger over UK terror raids

12 April 2012

A senior Pakistani diplomat has accused Britain of dragging his country's name through the mud over the terror raids in the north-west of England.

The 12 men arrested during the raids on April 8 - 11 of whom are Pakistani nationals - were later released without charge.

A day after the arrests PM Gordon Brown had spoken of a "major terrorist plot" being investigated.

In an interview with The Guardian, Asif Durrani, Pakistan's Deputy High Commissioner to London, said Mr Brown had appeared to be "pointing a finger towards Pakistan" and that his government's efforts to tackle terrorism were not being recognised by Britain and the West.

After the raids, Pakistan's High Commissioner Wajid Shamsul Hasan dismissed claims that his country was not doing enough to tackle extremists, insisting it was the UK that needed to do more.

Mr Durrani told the newspaper: "Pakistan's name is dragged into the mud on every opportunity... either we are allies, or we are not.

"Back home it was considered to be uncalled for remarks, weakening the (Pakistani) government. It was taken as 'despite all our efforts, you just brush them aside with the stroke of a pen'.

"No-one should expect Pakistanis (to) have good regard for the UK, if these kind of slurs and accusations continue to fly. They will see the UK as becoming vindictive."

His remarks come amid international concern as this week Taliban forces reached an area within 60 miles of the Pakistani capital Islamabad.

An inquiry into the case of the 12 men will be held by Lord Carlile, who reviews terror legislation. The 11 Pakistani nationals arrested have been handed over to the immigration authorities to be deported on "national security" grounds.

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