LONDON // While Pakistan's relations with Washington remain rocky, its prime minister painted a positive picture yesterday of his country's ties with Britain, America's most obedient ally.
Stressing Pakistan's commitment to fighting terrorism and extremism, just days after stinging criticism from US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Yusuf Raza Gilani met his UK counterpart, David Cameron, at Downing Street.
After indicating earlier this week that he was keen to resolve all outstanding issues with India, Mr Gilani and a clutch of Pakistani ministers were in Britain on a five-day official visit to review the Enhanced Strategic Dialogue agreed between the two nations when Mr Cameron visited Islamabad just over a year ago.
Describing relations with Britain as "excellent", Mr Gilani embarked on talks with Mr Cameron yesterday focused on security, education, health and cultural cooperation.
In an interview in yesterday's Guardian newspaper, Mr Gilani insisted that his nation had not been "complicit" in sheltering Osama bin Laden and blamed the fact that Al Qaeda's former leader had remained hidden in Pakistan for so long on a "universal failure" by intelligence services.
Mr Gilani admitted recent relations with the Obama administration had not been "too normal" since bin Laden was assassinated in May last year and 24 Pakistani soldiers were killed in a Nato air strike in November.
But he said the CIA and ISI were still working together in an attempt to eliminate terrorist leaders.
Mr Gilani met UK political leaders at a reception in parliament on Wednesday but a planned conference with community groups in Birmingham had to be cancelled over security concerns arising from friction with his Pakistan Peoples Party.
He told the gathering at the House of Commons that combating terrorism was in Pakistan's national interest but said: "We have also repeatedly said that we would not allow our territory to be used for any kind of attacks on other countries and we expect that the soil of other countries would not be used against Pakistan."
Mr Gilani also reiterated his determination to remain as premier despite being convicted of contempt last month by Pakistan's Supreme Court for failing to reopen corruption charges against former president, Asif Ali Zardari.
dsapsted@thenational.ae
Gully Boy
Director: Zoya Akhtar
Producer: Excel Entertainment & Tiger Baby
Cast: Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Kalki Koechlin, Siddhant Chaturvedi
Rating: 4/5 stars
A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
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Mobile phone packages comparison
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Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
Read more from Aya Iskandarani
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
SCORES
Multiply Titans 81-2 in 12.1 overs
(Tony de Zorzi, 34)
bt Auckland Aces 80 all out in 16 overs
(Shawn von Borg 4-15, Alfred Mothoa 2-11, Tshepo Moreki 2-16).
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20OneOrder%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20March%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Tamer%20Amer%20and%20Karim%20Maurice%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Cairo%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E82%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Series%20A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
