Gordon Brown, prime minister, yesterday played down suggestions that he had been snubbed by Asif Ali Zardari, Pakistan's president, amid continuing tensions between London and Islamabad over security policy.

On a visit to Islamabad, Mr Brown held talks with Mr Zardari and had been scheduled to hold a joint press conference with him. But in an unexpected change to the prime minister's schedule, the Pakistani authorities decided Mr Brown would instead make a joint appearance with the more junior Yousuf Raza Gilani, prime minister.