Pakistan to UK: No, we will not help you with your Mumbai investigation

by Robert Spencer

Fresh from refusing to help India, Pakistan now refuses to help the UK. Does anyone still have any serious doubt that significant elements within the Pakistani government support the "tiny minority of extremists," or else calculate that the support for them is so strong among the Pakistani people that if they move too strongly against them they will invite insurrection?

And note this well: "It is our country and our laws will be implemented. We'll follow our laws." Isn't it funny how so many Pakistanis, when they come to the UK, seem to forget that that simple principle applies to the British also?

"Pakistan refuses UK Mumbai appeal," from the BBC, December 15 (thanks to Edward):

Pakistan has rejected Gordon Brown's request that UK police be allowed to question Pakistani suspects held over November's attacks in Mumbai.

The prime minister asked for Scotland Yard detectives to be given the access, during talks in Islamabad on Sunday.

But Mr Brown's Pakistani counterpart, Yousaf Raza Gilani, said his country would "follow our laws".

The plea was made because UK citizen Andreas Liveras was among the 170 people murdered during the attack.

Mr Gilani told the country's parliament: "I want to assure you that when I met the British prime minister yesterday, he asked if... we would allow them to investigate those people."

He said his answer was no.

"It is our country and our laws will be implemented. We'll follow our laws.".