ISLAMABAD: British Prime Minister David Cameron called for a new start in relations with Pakistan Tuesday, eight months after sparking a diplomatic row by saying Pakistan should not be allowed to “look both ways” on terrorism. Cameron, who made those controversial comments on a trip to India in July 2010, will meet Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani in Islamabad, seeking to improve co-operation on counter-terrorism operations and Afghanistan. “Let's make today a ‘fresh start' in our relationship,” Cameron said in a speech to university students in Islamabad. Part of Cameron's olive branch is a 650 million pound ($1.05 billion) pledge to help build schools, train teachers and buy textbooks for Pakistani children - potentially Britain's biggest overseas education project which could put Pakistan at the top of the UK's aid list. The four-year scheme, which will have to be matched by Pakistan to reach fruition, is intended to put four million children into school and is seen by Britain as a way to reduce extremism. Cameron also pledged to push the World Trade Organization to agree on an emergency trade package for Pakistan, proposed last year by the European Union, saying Britain will continue to be the “strongest possible advocate for greater Pakistani access to European Union markets”. “I want to assure you that Pakistan has the resolve and the commitment to fight against extremism and terrorism,” Gilani told reporters at a joint press conference with Cameron. “We've paid a heavy price for that.” The two governments will also hold the first session of a national security dialogue as part of efforts to improve relations.
