ISLAMABAD, Nov 29: Pakistan has conveyed to Britain that its continued silence over the alleged bugging of the Pakistan’s London mission may affect bilateral cooperation in key areas, including counter-terrorism.

Pakistan’s principled stance on the issue was conveyed during a recent visit of senior foreign office and interior ministry officials to the UK.

“During meetings with the British Foreign and Commonwealth officials, we told them that Pakistan may cease cooperation with the UK in counter-terrorism measures and intelligence sharing in key areas unless the British government clarifies its position over the issue,” an official said.

Sources said the UK government should clarify its position, informing Pakistan if the British home secretary authorized Pakistan High Commission’s bugging under relevant laws besides making it clear whether it was deemed “necessary” or was the operation taken up by the British spy agency on its own initiative.

Foreign office sources cited British laws, according to which the MI5 would have applied to the home secretary for warrants under Part II of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act and Intelligence Service Act 1994 authorising intrusion of privacy and the installation of a covert eavesdropping device on a private property, respectively.

Sources said that the situation was further compounded after the British Home office’s denial regarding the home secretary signing any authorisation letter to bug the Pakistani mission, sources said.

Officials said the British foreign office’s contention that it did not comment on intelligence matters “angered” the Pakistani government, which went out on a limb to support the UK and the US as a key ally in the war against terrorism, arresting more than 600 Arab and Afghan Al-Qaeda supporters.

“We told the British officials that ... MI5 is not above the law and is answerable to the government, which must accept responsibility (in this regard),” said a senior official, supervising anti-terrorism operations in Pakistan.

“If a swift response of the British government is not forthcoming, we might have to decide about the scope of cooperation with MI5 operatives in the war against terror,” the same source said.

Pakistan had earlier conveyed its concerns, calling for an explanation from the British foreign office besides conveying the same through the British High Commissioner, Mark Lyall Grant, but nothing had been achieved so far.