Obama, Singh to discuss Pak situation

Lalit K Jha

Washington/New Delhi, Mar 26 (PTI) The worrying situation
in Pakistan and the threat it poses to stability of the region
will figure prominently when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
meets US President Barack Obama for the first time in London
on April 2.

With the White House announcing that the two leaders
will meet on the sidelines of G-20 summit, the stage is set
for the first contact at the highest level between India and
the new US administration which assumed office two months ago.

New Delhi has been worried about reports from Washington
that the Obama administration wants to reach out to the
so-called "good Taliban" in Afghanistan-Pakistan in a bid
to control the situation in Afghanistan which has worsened.

The Indian view that there is no such thing as "good"
Taliban -- they are all terrorists, is likely to be conveyed
to the United States, knowledgeable sources said.

The US sees a role for India in stabilising situation
in Afghanistan-Pakistan as was conveyed by Deputy Secretary
James B Steinberg in Washington the other day where he said
"the United States and India must work together to help
address what is one of the most urgent security challenges
facing us -- to work with the democratic governments of
Pakistan and Afghanistan to root out the violent forces that
threaten the stability of the region and pose a direct danger
to the Indian and American homelands.

"We are joined in the searing memories of September 11
and Mumbai in understanding the urgency and importance of
this task," he added. PTI PYK
AM