Pak, Afghan situation to figure in Obama- Indian PM meet

New Delhi, Mar 30 (PTI) In their first meeting on
Thursday in London, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and
US President Barack Obama would discuss ways to take forward
the strategic bilateral relations and deliberate on efforts to
deal with the worrying security situation in Pakistan and
Afghanistan.

The meeting, which comes close on the heels of Obama
unveiling the new Afghan-Pakistan strategy, will provide an
opportunity to the two leaders to discuss ways to work closely
on the issue considering that the US President has talked
about involving India in the international efforts to
stabilise the region.

Briefing reporters on the Prime Minister's visit to
London for the G-20 Summit on international financial crisis,
Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon said that the two leaders
meeting on the sidelines of the Summit would discuss the world
economic crisis as also the bilateral relations and situation
in the region, especially Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Noting that the new US Administration has described the
relationship between New Delhi and Washington as "truly
strategic and stand-alone partnership", he said the two
leaders will discuss how to take the ties forward.

Replying to questions, Menon said the situation in
Pakistan and Afghanistan will come up for discussion between
Singh and Obama against the backdrop of the new US strategy on
the two countries.

Referring to the strategic review rolled out by the US
last Friday, the Foreign Secretary said India welcomes the
"will to carry out struggle against terrorism in the two
countries.

"India has direct interest in the international effort
to root out terrorism and it is ready to play a constructive
role to defeat terrorism."

He said "links" between "Pakistani establishment and
terror elements" is a cause of concern for India and it would
welcome anybody's efforts to "cut those links". He said India
would convey its views and approach on the issue to its
friends.

Asked about Obama's publicly-stated intention to engage
in "constructive diplomacy to lessen tensions between India
and Pakistan", Menon made known New Delhi's discomfiture with
any third party intervention.

He made it clear that relations between India and
Pakistan are best addressed bilaterally and in this regard
referred to the progress made in the bilateral ties from 2003
till Mumbai attacks.

Menon said it would be "hard" for any "external" hand to
replace the bilateral process between India and Pakistan.

"You need two hands to clap. A third hand will not be
helpful," he said.

Asked whether India expected US pressure on Kashmir,
the Foreign Secretary shot back: "Why?"

To a question about the situation in Pakistan and
Afghanistan and the US approach to it, he said the "problem"
and "diagnosis" are very clear although different countries
might have different approaches.

He noted that US' Special Envoy on Afghanistan and
Pakistan Richard Holbrooke would be coming here early next
month and New Delhi's point of view would be conveyed to him.

"India is ready to play a constructive role (on
Afghanistan issue).. We are ready to work with the US," Menon
said, adding New Delhi was not unduly worried about "other
people's sensitivities" on the issue.

"I am not an astrolger (to predict how Pakistan would
take India's role in Afghanistan). We will do what is in our
national interest," he said.

To a question, Menon said Chahbahar port in Iran was
ready to be used by anyone for access to Afghanistan and this
issue was discussed with Tehran last week.

In this context, he referred to the Delaram-Zaranj
highway constructed by India as part of link between Kabul and
Iran with monetary and "human investments". PTI AKK
SAK
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