LONDON – Pakistan has agreed to cooperate more closely on counterterrorism issues with Britain after the killing of Osama bin Laden, the prime minister's office said Friday.
David Cameron and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari held their first face-to-face discussions in London since the May 2 raid by U.S. Navy SEALs in Abbottabad during which bin Laden was killed.
Pakistani leaders have denied knowing that bin Laden was in Abbottabad — and U.S. officials have said there's no evidence yet that the upper ranks of the Pakistani military or civilian leadership helped hide him. But Pakistanis are furious that the U.S. staged the raid without any warning or Islamabad's consent.
Earlier this week, it was revealed that Pakistan had ordered Britain to withdraw some of its military training teams from the country. Britain's military said the 18 trainers had been asked to leave over security concerns expressed by Pakistan's government following the Abbottabad raid.
Downing Street did not mention the incident, instead emphasizing cooperation between the two countries.
Cameron angered Pakistani officials last year when, on a visit to India, he said Pakistan must not be "allowed to look both ways" on terrorism. Since Bin Laden's death, he has argued that the West must continue to cooperate with Pakistan.
Cameron's office said the two leaders "discussed terrorism, agreeing that it is a global phenomenon that should be fought by intensifying cooperation at all levels."
It added: "Cameron appreciated Pakistan's full commitment to fight terrorism and stressed that there was now an opportunity to move decisively against al-Qaida."
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