Pakistan–United Kingdom relations

Pakistani–British relations

Pakistan
United Kingdom

Pakistani–British relations are the relations between Pakistan and the United Kingdom. Both Pakistan and the United Kingdom are members of the Commonwealth of Nations[1] and the United Nations.[2]

History

British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond meeting Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in London, November 2014.

Until the creation of Pakistan in 1947, it was part of the British Raj.[3] Pakistan became a Dominion within the Commonwealth of Nations, with the British Monarch serving as Monarch of Pakistan (see Dominion of Pakistan). King George VI was king from 1947 until his death in 1952. Elizabeth II then became queen until 1956, when Pakistan became a republic within the Commonwealth of Nations. However the governors-general represented the link between the peoples and the monarchy and did serve as a de facto heads of state (Ceremonial) at various times.

Due to post-independence migration from Pakistan to the United Kingdom, especially during the 1950s and 1960s, between 750,000 and 1 million British people are of Pakistani descent, according to the 2001 census almost 143,000 lived in the capital, London.[4]

The first Military leader Ayub Khan paid a state visit to the United Kingdom in November 1966.[5]

The Queen of the United Kingdom and Head of the Commonwealth, Elizabeth II, paid a state visit to Pakistan in October 1997.[6]

On 28 July 2010 UK Prime Minister David Cameron said that Pakistan promotes the export of terrorism, which worsened the ties between the two countries.[7] However, David Cameron and Asif Ali Zardari later met at David Cameron's country residence Chequers where both agreed to mend ties.[8] At the meeting Cameron spoke of the "unbreakable relationship between Britain and Pakistan based on our mutual interests". While Zardari added that "Storms will come and storms will go and Pakistan and Britain will stand together and face all the difficulties with dignity".[9] Zardari's visit was criticised by much of the Pakistani public. In December 2010, in an attempt to further mend fragile relations, Cameron proposed a state visit to Pakistan after seeing off troops in Afghanistan. His visit, however, was snubbed and rejected by Prime Minister Gillani, who said Pakistan did not want to be ‘tagged on’ to a visit to Afghanistan.[10]

Military relations

Both nations were part of Cold War alliance called the Central Treaty Organization.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Member countries Commonwealth". http://thecommonwealth.org/. External link in |website= (help)
  2. ↑ "Member States of the United Nations". http://www.un.org/. External link in |website= (help)
  3. ↑ Abdul, Majeed (December 15, 2014). "God save the queen?". The News.
  4. ↑ 2001 Census Profiles: Pakistanis in London
  5. ↑ "State Visits". Official web site of the British Monarchy. Retrieved 2009-04-01.
  6. ↑ "Outward State visits since 1952". Official web site of the British Monarchy. Retrieved 2009-04-01.
  7. ↑ "UK PM cautions Pakistan over 'terror exports'". BBC News. 28 July 2010.
  8. ↑ http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2010/08/201086113343820959.html
  9. ↑ "Cameron and Zardari 'enhance partnership'". BBC News. 6 August 2010.
  10. ↑ Pakistan snubs Cameron visit: Reports (The Express Tribune)
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