Indian Prime Minister Visit to the USA

[ejaz007]

US-India growing ties not threat for Pakistan: US
Updated at: 0730 PST, Thursday, November 19, 2009


WASHINGTON: U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia, Robert Blake on Wednesday said Washington will maintain close relations with both Pakistan and India, assuring Islamabad that it should not feel threatened by the steps Washington is taking to advance U.S.-India relations.

“We value our partnership with Pakistan and with India,” Blake said at a briefing days ahead of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s state visit to Washington aimed at expanding the U.S.-India relations in wide-ranging areas.

“I don’t think Islamabad should be threatened by the steps we are taking with India,” he responded when asked specifically how Pakistan should view the Indian leader’s visit between November 22 to 26, during which he will hold talks with President Barack Obama on strengtheing ties in economic, defense and a host of other areas.

Blake remarked that in the beginning of the Obama administration it was said that the U.S. was focusing on Pakistan and Afghanistan to the exclusion of India but now it is forging ties with New Delhi as well.

“There was a good reason for that in part because Pakistan and Afghanistan are extremely important and also because the Indian government had not yet had its elections.”

In terms of US defense deals with India - said to be around $ 10 billion - he stated, these are being worked out and are longer-term sales that are in the planning stages.

The Assistant Secretary praised Pakistan’s ongoing anti-militant campaign in South Waziristan and elsewhere in the western parts.

“I think the steps that Pakistan has taken in Swat and South Waziristan show that they are taking the extremist threat within Pakistan very seriously.”

In answer to a question, he said “Pakistan has made some progress” in regard with investigation into November 2008 attacks on Mumbai and expected more cooperation from Islamabad in prosecuting militants behind accused of being behind these attacks.

Blake also recognized China’s role in enforcing security and stability in the region both in Pakistan-India and Pakistan-Afghanistan contexts, saying the U.S. will like to get Beijing’s views on imrpoving security situation in the region.

US-India growing ties not threat for Pakistan: US

[ejaz007]

Indian PM starts first state visit under Obama
Updated at: 2350 PST, Sunday, November 22, 2009


WASHINGTON: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrived Sunday in the United States for the first state visit under President Barack Obama, an Indian official said.

Singh flew into Andrews Air Force Base near Washington at the start of his four-day visit to the United States, Indian embassy spokesman Rahul Chhabra said.

Obama is honoring the Indian prime minister with the first full-fledged state visit of his presidency including a ceremonial welcome Tuesday at the White House and a black-tie dinner.

Indian PM starts first state visit under Obama

[ejaz007]

Manmohan presses Pakistan amid US visit
Updated at: 0230 PST, Monday, November 23, 2009


WASHINGTON: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday started a high-profile state visit to the United States with a call on President Barack Obama to stay committed on Afghanistan and pressure Pakistan.

The Indian premier arrived at Andrews Air Force Base near Washington to kick off the first full-fledged state visit of Obama's presidency, which will culminate in a swank black-tie dinner at the White House on Tuesday.

While a host of issues are on the table, experts say Obama's main intention was to demonstrate his commitment to the world's largest democracy after an early focus on working with its neighbors China and Pakistan.

But Singh made clear he would not shy away from offering advice on the top foreign issue for Obama -- Afghanistan. Obama is wrapping up weeks of deliberation on whether to reinforce the 68,000 US troops who will be in Afghanistan by year-end.

"It is very important that both the US and the global community stay engaged in Afghanistan," Singh said in an interview with USA’s The Washington Post and Newsweek, warning of civil war if US forces withdrew.

Singh also called for the Obama administration to pressure Pakistan to rein in Islamic extremists, saying that India's historic rival has not done enough against militants blamed for last year's chilling assault on Mumbai.

"We have been the victims of Pakistan-aided, -abetted and-inspired terrorism for nearly 25 years. We would like the United States to use all its influence with Pakistan to desist from that path," Singh said in the interview.

"Pakistan has nothing to fear from India. It's a tragedy that Pakistan has come to the point of using terror as an instrument of state policy," he said.

He doubted that Pakistan and the United States had the same objectives in Afghanistan, saying that Islamabad's main interest was to maintain a grip on its northern neighbor.

Manmohan presses Pakistan amid US visit