Cameron is on a visit to Pakistan nine months after a row generated by his accusations that elements in Pakistan were promoting the export of terror. The purpose was to hold strategic talks, a nebulous term that has been done to death by the FO over the years. The three issues highlighted by Cameron were trade, education and security. Pakistan and Britain have interests that sometime coincide, enhancement of trade being one. The decision to enhance bilateral trade from ₤1.2 billion to ₤2.5 billion by the year 2015 can at best be called an expression of resolve to move towards a mutually desired goal. How much increase in volume actually takes place in four years and which one of the partners is the major beneficiary remains to be seen. Realistically speaking, the promise by Cameron to help Pakistan get greater trade access in the EU is little more than a gimmick. Efforts made over the last five years by Islamabad to get greater trade access in the US and EU markets have failed to produce any result. There is little hope of Britain being able to do anything in view of its limited clout in the EU.
Of more use would be the British project to help Pakistan educate 4 million children, train 90,000 teachers and provide 6 million textbooks. For this, assurances of transparency have been sought from Islamabad in view of the perception of widespread corruption in the ranks of the PPP led administration. As Cameron put it, his government will have to convince the British people that every penny given for education was going into the right place.
As a quid pro quo, Pakistan is required to exert further to address the Wests security concerns. The British Prime Minister held a separate meeting with the COAS on these issues. What was discussed has not been made public. Cameron however gave a hint of his desire for a wider crackdown in North Waziristan. While one may agree with the need for the operation, it is questionable if it will be of any use if it leads to the terrorists wreaking havoc in the rest of Pakistan as has happened after the recent operations in Mohmand and Bajaur agencies.
