Pak issues demarche to French, German envoys over ‘terror’ remarks against nation

ISLAMABAD - The Pakistan Foreign Office has conveyed its disappointment over the reported remarks of French President Nicholas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel to the envoys of the two countries.

Both ambassadors were summoned to the foreign office and told of the government’s and the Pakistani public’s disappointment over remarks made by Sarkozy and Merkel relating to Pakistan, following their meeting with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi and Berlin respectively, the Daily Times reports.

“It was underlined that Pakistan enjoyed excellent relations with both France and Germany and that bilateral cooperation in all areas had lately been on the increase. Pakistan was, therefore, surprised and disappointed at the reported remarks made by the two leaders,” the Foreign Office said.

Responding to the demarche, the German envoy said Merkel’s remarks had been misquoted, and that she had outlined general principles of Germany’s counter-terrorism policy, and those remarks were not Pakistan specific.

During a joint press conference in New Delhi last week, Sarkozy had urged Pakistan to combat extremists on its territory.

Sarkozy had said it was “unacceptable” that terror networks could find refuge in Pakistan. (ANI)