Britain and Pakistan agreed on Friday to do more together to fight militancy, smoothing over a diplomatic spat that followed British criticism of Pakistani efforts in countering extremism. British Prime Minister David Cameron had said on a trip to India last week that Pakistan should not “look both ways” in combating militant groups, sparking anger in Islamabad and putting a strain on relations between the two countries. The dispute has overshadowed President Asif Ali Zardari's visit to Britain this week. But, after meeting Cameron at his rural English official residence, the Pakistani leader said the diplomatic friendship would “never break, no matter what happens”. “Storms will come and storms will go and Pakistan and Britain will stand together and face all the difficulties with dignity, and we will make sure the world is a better place for our coming generations,” he told reporters. Battling militancy was high on the agenda at their meeting and Cameron said they would do more to improve cooperation on security and policing. “That is a real priority for my government and somewhere where, with Pakistan, we are going to work together,” he said. The two leaders signed a communique vowing to intensify counter-terrorism efforts and strengthen trade ties, and Cameron also accepted an invitation to visit Pakistan. They discussed the situation in Afghanistan and how to help people affected by recent floods that have killed some 1,500 people - the worst floods in some 80 years. Zardari spoke to the French daily Le Monde this week, rejecting Cameron's criticism that Pakistan wasn't doing enough to combat terrorism and asserting that the US-led coalition had lost the battle against the Taliban after failing to win over the Afghan people - a claim that the White House swiftly rejected. Describing Friday's talks as productive, both leaders said they had committed to boosting strategic and cooperative ties. “Whether it is keeping troops safe in Afghanistan or keeping people safe on the streets of Britain, that is a real priority for my government, and somewhere where, with Pakistan, we are going to work together in this enhanced strategic partnership,” Cameron said. Zardari described Pakistan's alliance with the UK as unbreakable. Pakistan is one of Britain's most important allies in fighting terrorism - nearly 1 million people of Pakistani origin live in Britain, and Pakistani intelligence has been crucial in several terror investigations, including the 2005 suicide attacks that killed 52 London commuters and a 2006 trans-Atlantic airliner plot. One British official said Friday that the intelligence relationship with Pakistan remained a challenge because of divisions and instability within the government. “This is a key relationship but not one without difficulties,” said the official. Zardari travels to Syria after Britain, according to Pakistani officials in London.
