British prime minister David Cameron will pledge Britain's support for Pakistan during a meeting with president Asif Ali Zardari, a spokesman said tonight, as the two countries try to repair a diplomatic row.
Mr Cameron invited Mr Zardari, who is on a five-day visit to Britain, to dinner tonight at his Chequers official country residence - the first foreign leader to be accorded the honour since Mr Cameron took power in May, according to aides.
Formal talks tomorrow will focus on strengthening cooperation in countering terrorism, a spokesman for Mr Cameron said.
"It is an important opportunity to reinforce the strong links between the UK and Pakistan and continue to support stability, security, democracy and prosperity in Pakistan," the spokesman said.
Mr Cameron angered Pakistan when he said on a visit to India last week that Pakistan must not "look both ways" in its approach to Islamic militants.
His remarks came days after US military reports published on the WikiLeaks website detailed concerns Pakistan's Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) agency had aided Taliban militants fighting in Afghanistan.
Pakistan's spy chief cancelled a trip to Britain in protest at Cameron's remarks.
Mr Zardari told French newspaper Le Monde this week he hoped his meeting with Mr Cameron would help dispel a "serious crisis". Mr Cameron has said he stands by his comments.
British lawmaker Khalid Mahmood said yesterday the spat could harm intelligence cooperation between Britain and Pakistan, seen as vital in tackling terror plots in Britain.
Pakistan's help is also crucial to Western efforts to stabilise Afghanistan, where the Taliban insurgency is at its strongest since the hardline Islamists were overthrown in 2001.
Mr Zardari's decision to spend a week in France and Britain when more than 1,600 people have been killed in Pakistan's biggest floods in 80 years has angered many Pakistanis.
Mr Cameron's spokesman said he and Zardari would discuss the international response to the floods and what more Britain could do to help. Britain has donated £10 million for flood relief efforts.
Britain is a major aid donor to Pakistan, having pledged £665 million to Pakistan from 2009-2013, and nearly a million people of Pakistani origin live in Britain.
Mr Cameron and Mr Zardari will also discuss the situation in Afghanistan, where Britain has 9,500 soldiers, the second largest foreign contingent after the United States.
Reuters