Christina Lamb and Michael Smith
Download 'Too Hot', an exclusive Specials track from iTunes
AMERICAN raids on Taliban and Al-Qaeda targets in Pakistan could provoke terror attacks in London,Pakistan’s high commissioner to the UK warned yesterday.
Wajid Shamsul Hasan said the US bombings had killed hundreds of civilians but had failed to eliminate any Al-Qaeda leader.
“This will infuriate Muslims in this country and make the streets of London less safe,” he said. “There are 1m Pakistanis in the diaspora here and resentment is mounting. I’m being flooded by text messages from community leaders saying we must organise our anger.
“The Americans’ trigger-happy actions will radicalise young Muslims. They’re playing into the hands of the very militants we’re supposed to be fighting.”
His remarks followed outrage in Pakistan over five attacks in the past 10 days, including a ground assault in the village of Angoor Adda in which 20 people were killed. US officials say all were Al-Qaeda supporters but Pakistan insists they were civilians, including women and children.
Pakistan’s newly elected president, Asif Ali Zardari, arrives in Britain today on what was to have been a private visit to see his daughter off to university in Edinburgh. Instead he will hold crisis talks with Gordon Brown and David Miliband, the foreign secretary. He will appeal to them to exert their influence to halt the unauthorised bombings.
“We hope they will help convince the Americans to stop it, to give space to our fledgling democracy and revive our economy,” Hasan said. “Otherwise the army will take over. Is that what they want?”
Win a luxury weekend to Newcastle and its neighbour Gateshead, find out more here
Risk, resilience and embracing new technology
Industry sectors news at a glance. Interactive heatmap, video and podcast
Discover the power of collective thinking. Submit a solution and be in with a chance to win a Media Hub Home Entertainment System
The inside track on current trends in the charity, not for profit and social enterprise sectors
Everything the Business Traveller needs to know to make a better trip
Make the most of the summer and enter our fabulous photographic competition, you could win a £5000 holiday
Corsica is an island of beauty and contrast, an ideal holiday destination
Enjoy further reading from Travel to Fashion, Business to Sport, discover more
Shortcuts to help you find sections and articles
The clever way to lease a new car is with Car leasing made simple™
2009
per month on 36-month
Personal Contract Hire (PCH)
2008
42850
Car Insurance
£24,250 - £30,346
MI5
London
£60,000
The Environment Agency
Bristol
Up to £90K
Boots
Midlands
OTE £85k
Credit Protection Association
Nationwide Opportunities
Completely London
Luxury Condo's in Manhattan with NYC views
The best new homes in Wimbledon?
Nationwide
Fabulous Cruise And Cruise & Stay Offers Including Virgin Atlantic Flights Prices Start From Only £699pp!
Last Minute Cruise And Cruise & Stay Offers. Med From £499pp, Caribbean From £699pp!
5 star quality at a 3 star price.
8 fabulous Canadian cities ...you won’t find cheaper
Contact our advertising team for advertising and sponsorship in Times Online, The Times and The Sunday Times, or place your advertisement.
Times Online Services: Dating | Jobs | Property Search | Used Cars | Holidays | Births, Marriages, Deaths | Subscriptions | E-paper
News International associated websites: Globrix Property Search | Property Finder | Milkround
Copyright 2009 Times Newspapers Ltd.
This service is provided on Times Newspapers' standard Terms and Conditions. Please read our Privacy Policy.To inquire about a licence to reproduce material from Times Online, The Times or The Sunday Times, click here.This website is published by a member of the News International Group. News International Limited, 1 Virginia St, London E98 1XY, is the holding company for the News International group and is registered in England No 81701. VAT number GB 243 8054 69.
What is the difference between USA bombing innocent civilians in Pakistan and those who would bomb innocent British civilians here? NOTHING.
Maria, London, UK
Mr. Vishal Patel in London says that "the Frankestein monster (created by the US during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan) has attacked its creator...". Frankenstein monsters ALWAYS do.
Arthur Stoat-Brockley, Yeovil, UK
Terrorism, no matter how destructive, remains a police problem not a military problem. There is no military remedy, as Israel, the U.S., and Russia have demonstrated. All have tried to use bombers and tanks to fight terrorism, and all have failed spectacularly.
Tikhon Gilson, Lakewood, USA
Vishal Patel, London, UK wrote: "This monster was really created by Americans during USSR's invasion of Afghanistan. Now the Frankenstein monster has attacked its creator."
Actually, this FM was created by Churchill (Read : In the Shadow of the Great Game) at Partition.
jack, New York, USA
I am a Pakistani, i do not agree with the comments of the High Commisioner. At the same time the US is not right either.
The question to be asked of the HC is which British soldier violated the Pakistani Soil. None. Is he really so nieve as to believe that UK has any sway over the US.
Mohammed , Birmingham,
if he wants to talk to GB he'd better get his skates on
peter c, Devizes, Wessex
Bit rich from someone who represents a country that is a haven for terrorists and doesn't even control its own territory. Send the guy and any like minded people back.
Chris, London,
I think we should distance ourselves with the UK are best friends in the world. Let's ally ourselves with Russia and China, two real superpowers.
Stewie O' Riordan, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
Tim, Toronto
You have no idea what your talking about neighbor, Luckily Canada hasn't had a terrorist attack like 9/11. If you did, then you realize how it feels to loose a friend or brother...to be hated abroad.
James McCullough, Queens, New York, USA
Is it not time to stop all muslim immigration to the UK and if those that are here dont behave in an acceptable way to us then they should be given an ultimatum to leave. nIve no interest where they were born
andrew harris, coventry, England
US, rescue Britain? Please, let them handle their own stuff.
They've never done anything for us, just tried to fight our independence.
God bless, the queen.
Stewie O' Riordan, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
"Let them leave"
Why should they? The benefits system is far better here than anywhere on earth!
John, london,
Pakistan and most muslim states suffer brutal poverty and social terror. Oil rich states (Suadi etc), need armies to protect rulers. Violence and 'takeyya' (deception) rule.
Christian societies have forgiveness, love God, love your neighbour to give safe progress.
Any doubt which works?
Mo, bradford, UK
Pity the same 'community leaders' have never got round to organising their anger about the innocent civilians killed in Islamic terrorist attacks
Steve, London,
If someone in the UK wants to commit a crime or incite a group of people to commit a crime, then they should be locked up. If they were not born in the UK, then they should be sent back to where ever they immigrated from - they're not fit to live in a society where different cultures that want peace
Erol, Enfield, UK
We Allies should adopt the practices used in Ulster against the IRA :
1. Infiltrate and disrupt by intelligence-driven operations within their ranks
2. Pay, train and supply the local friendly militias (Ulster Defence Association, Ulster Volunteer Force, RUC, UDR etc)to take the war to the enemy
Nigel, London, UK
The High commissioner should be booted out of the country immediately and take any of his like minded pakistani with him. I am a Brit of Pakistani origin, this is my country and this is my nation. If Pakistan is being bombed then let it sort its own house out rather than scare monger us.
Wasim, Gla, Scotland
I don't think any thing bad will happen, our Pakistanis know which side their bread is buttered and have a lovely civilised happy life here and don't want it disrupted or to be forced back to Pakistan and I do not want my Pakistani friends to be treated harshly or unjustly
peter c, Devizes, Wessex
This seems like a threat to me and historically the British do not respond well to threats. I certainly don't! They see us as a soft and indirect target.
If the pakistanis want america to stop bombing them why don't they bomb america? Time to toughen up our borders and get rid of the threats.
kim, london,
Why dont the Pakistanis just go back and start to attack the Americans if they dont like the US action in THEIR own country.
Forget about terrorising the Brits, we have NO say as to what the Warmongering US does in this world.
Unfortunately we are just a puppet government.
Sid Jacques, Durham,
look for the truth and you will see it ,listen for the truth and it is there look at butto she said it all in a interview befor she died its on disclose tv and otheresites look for the truth and you will see it .
j truthman , london , england
So once again innocent British civilians are being threatened by someone who is supposed to represent his country and also his country's people who have moved to live amongst us.
Ok lets take this to its natural conclusion - the non-Muslims here must protect themselves against Muslims here?
Steed Martin, London, UK
I was living and working in the North of England when the large influx of Asian took place in the fifties. However the Pakistanis never wanted to nor did they integrate. This can be seen by the ghettos they have created for themselves. Let them leave. The UK does not control the USA.
John, Zurich, Switzerland
There is no difference between deliberate targetting and killing of civilians and the "collateral" killing of civilians in a cross-border raid that is by definition invalid, illegal and unethical in itself.
sharjil, birmingham,
The families of the victims of USA's strikes are right to be angry - they should not have been in the firing line in a ridiculous, amoral and fantastical "war on terror". Negotiate with 3rd world al-qaeda, like you negotiated with 1st world IRA and ETA.
sharjil, birmingham,
Pakistan is a terrorist safe-house, Pakistan and their military are aiding and abetting the Taliban to attack NATO - they could turn off and on the terrorist tap against Indian Kashmir, now they do the same for Afghanistan. They must be treated as such, an enemy state
Suraj Kumar, Princeton, USA
Would the high commissioner accept that actions by Muslims in the UK, like the London bombings, are an excuse for the BNP to go over to Pakistan and kill Muslims? On reflection, that comparison is grossly unfair, as the BNP has done nothing to compare with what Muslims in the UK have already done or are apparently trying to do on a weekly, even daily basis.
Richard, Salisbury, Wilts
Perhaps statements of this nature might make the politicians and civil servants of the Uber liberal disposition wake up to where the real threat to UK National Security lies, i.e. within state sanctioned hostile colonies here at home.
Dave, Chorley,
Who came from Pakistan for better lives to UK have to consider: first loyalty to UK or first
If loyalty to UK is first, then they should condemn Pakistani HC for meddling in British matters.
Otherwise, is it not time for some to move back? Is it not time to deport the remaining?
R. K. Mani , Mumbai, India
Saurabh, no one cares about India or hindus. Our people only control one country whereas the world and the media is dominated by the Christian, Jewish and Muslim nexus.
So, a few bombs go off in India it doesn't really resonate wih many newspapers. Of course pictures of poverty are great.
Kris, London,
"...terror attacks in London,Pakistans high commissioner to the UK warned yesterday"
Surely after this threat shouldn't we consider stopping all immigration from Pakistan and severely restricting the flow of movement between the two countries?
David Cartright, Birmingham ,
If Pakistan actually had control over its entire territory rather than being a semi-failed state with a genuine reluctance to stop the Taliban from hiding out on its soil, the US would have no reason to cross the border.
Donald Smith, London, UK
How about Pakistan taking control of their own country then and getting rid of the terrorists there. Why should we have to keep putting up with attacks on our troops from the Taliban who are based trained financed and equipped from Pakisatn. Put your own house in order.
M winn, Aylesbury,
Saurabh, the Delhi blasts were covered by this paper yesterday..
High Commissioner; British Muslims aren't so stupid to attack Britain because the belligerent US is at it again; we are British after all & were educated here.
It wouldn't hurt to see the UK take an independent view for once though.
Qasim, West Midlands, UK
Janetm you poor individual, pakistan does not know where he is, do you really think they do? please he is bigger threat to them than he is to me and you...
Alexander, your view on wahhabi is wrong, I am afraid to say, Alqaida are not an islamic organisation more a criminal gang
David, Leeds, Uk
Yvonne - tell that to the Irish Republic
Have you any idea the atrocities authored by the British?
billy, Cardiff, Wales
Zardari, must take responsibility for allowing Taliban and al Qaeda to cross the border from his country into Afghanistan and kill British troops in Helmand. Enough is enough ! Pakistanis have played a double game for far too long. It's time they must face the consequences of their own crookedness.
Safiullah Tazib, London, UK
uk special forces are training afghan militants to fight in pakistan to create an insurgency. (not reported in uk press).
resources: nwfp and baluchistan rich in gas, oil , water , minerals etc baluchistan major sea port. important for turkmenistan - afghan - baluchistan -pipeline.
wendy, glasgow,
You have 1m Pakistani in the UK? No wonder Scotland wants to separate before you have sharia law in place of English law. In Canada, a Pakistani lawyer went as far as the Supreme Court of Ontario to try to get Sharia law established here and failed ( this time) They are very persisitent
wxalexander, Delta, Canada
The Wahabbi cult developed over two centuries has little to do with mainstream Islam and is dependent on the indoctrination of the Pakistani poor. Its incorporation of pre-WWII Nazi ideology, in particular destruction of the Jews, makes it a pariah to decent societies. Best to confront it now.
Alexander Davidson, Crawley, UK
Do you remember when we used to proud to be British, when we stood for what was right and defended the weak? When we were the nation others would turn to for help because we had a spine of steel that could be relied upon in times of crisis? Do remember those days? When we weren't a puppet nation?
Yvonne, Glasgow,
Why don't the Pakistanis just hand over Bin Laden; or at least take control of the whole of their country?
Janet, London,
If you analyze the statement made by the High Commissioner very carefully, he is passing a two tier message namely:-
1) A subliminal message to the sleeping dogs (the terror cells in the UK) to wake up and,
2) A clear threat/warning to the rest of us, that we will pay for supporting this.
Mr Ali, London,
Wake up UK. Destabilising a nuclear armed state with a population of 175 million people is absolute madness. The US neocons are absolutely crazy in pursuing this policy of cross border raids. It will only widen the regional war and further alienate the 1million plus Pakistanis who live in the UK.
Samuel, Glasgow,
I'm getting a little tired of reading comments like from Dan based in Worthing: "don't worry, if it gets too bad for you the u.s will rescue you - as always". Dan, the Americans are the ones who are causing the problems to begin with. The UK really needs to start distancing it's self from the u.s.a.
Cirep G Nol, London, uk
Time the Pakistanis to go home and fight the Americans in their own country. If you live here abide by our laws and fight in your own country, we do not need any more bombings killing British people because that will lead to civil war on the streets then.
F. Simpson, Leics,
If muslim deaths in Pakistan justify (in the minds of "British" muslims) attacks on British civilians, then (by analogy) British citizens are equally justified in continuing the tribal battle by starting to eliminate the "muslim community" in Britain. I sincerely hope neither group so behaves.
Nick, Rotherham, UK
Sauraba typical reaction when someone does not get what they want. next time make sure of your facts!! http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article4748999.ece and just so you know the stories move down as time goes on and newer stories come in. It was huge headlines when it happened.
Lloyd, London,
I'm aBritish "Pakistani" and can say 100% that Borwn and Milliband are behind this also, just the othor day Brown backed Bush over this.Someone needs to confront these neocon war crminals in the white house,only last month they were ready to go to war with Russia.USA neocon foreign policy is FAILURE
Rabbani, B-Ham, England
Does Pakistan have any natural resources, like oil, that the US needs, and/or is it a market for American goods? If not, then Dubya is unlikely to listen to them.
Bill Peter, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
This monster was really created by Americans during USSR's invasion of Afghanistan.
Now the Frankenstein monster has attacked its creator.
Vishal Patel, London, UK
This is depressing on so many levels. I don't think the west has the will to win this war against Islamic extremism. I'm not sure what Pakistan expects the UK to do.
For the record, Obama is in favor of cross-border raids.
Alvin York, Pall Mall TN, usa
It must be getting dangerous in N Pakistan. Of course if they had control of the border the drone attacks would be unnecessary
r. burns, Tampa, USA
This is the same high commissioner who has taken office after a thief was elected the country's President? What he means is Zardari will kill more 'tribal Pakistanis' under the guise of 'war on terror', creating militants who will blame the UK/US and foolish try to harm more innocent people.
Farrukh, Woking,
Seems like Pakistan's blackmailing tactic !
Kumar, London,
Why has this newspaper not written something about the Delhi blasts (a real event)? It would make more sense than writing about blasts that have not happened yet.
Saurabh Kumar, New York, USA
Americans don't care how it affects the UK. They will do whatever they want and if you don't like it, they will find someone who does.
Tim, Toronto,
don't worry,if it gets too bad for you the u.s. will rescue you - as always
dan, worthing, england