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Toronto: Prime Minister Manmohan Singhtoday pressed US President Barack Obama to convince Pakistanto take strong action against terrorists involved inanti-India activities in that country following disclosuresmade by LeT operative David Headley.Briefing reporters about 30-minute long Singh-Obama meeting on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit here, Foreign
Secretary Nirupama Rao said the two leaders discussed thesituation in the region and they spoke of counter-terrorismcooperation in Afghanistan to stabilise the situation there. Singh briefed Obama about the peace initiatives withPakistan but made it clear that Islamabad should abide by itscommitment of not to allow terrorism emanating from its soildirected against India. The activities of Headley came up for discussion in
the light of information coming out of Pakistani-American LeToperative and the two leaders also went over the fact whether
Pakistan is serious in using this information in tacklingterror in the region. 49-year-old Headley has confessed his role in Mumbaiterror attacks and Indian investigators were given directaccess to him this month. During his interrogation, Headley
made disclosures, described as 'useful' by the investigators. Prime Minister Singh told Obama that while peaceinitiatives had their place, it was for Pakistan to showwhether it was serious about using that information to tackleterrorism in the region.
To a question, Rao said the issue of extradition offormer Union Carbide Chief Warren Anderson did not come upduring the meeting. When asked about Pakistan Interior Minister RehmanMalik's reported statement that it was not possible for either
Pakistan or India to control the likes of LeT chief HafizSaeed, she said it was possible for Pakistan to control theactivities of people like Saeed who were not doing right forrelationship between the two countries. She said Home Minister P Chidambaram during his tripto Pakistan had told them that it was India's hope that Pkistan continues to pay attention to the activities of Saeedit was still possible for Pakistan to take action against them.
The Foreign Secretary said the meeting between Singhand Obama was marked with warmth and cordiality. They referred to the strategic partnership between thetwo sides and expressed satisfaction over the currentmomentum of the relations. They discussed the situation in Afghanistan andresolved to fight terrorism. Obama said he was looking forward to his visit toIndia in November and the Prime Minister emphasised that Indiawas preparing eagerly for the visit. The President, his wife and their children would bereceived very warmly in India.
Welcoming Singh, Obama called him a 'good friend' andsaid he continues to believe that the extraordinary leadership
that the Indian Prime Minister has provided not just to his country, but to the world, has helped 'us navigate through some very difficult times.' In his opening remarks, the US President said he was very pleased to have accepted an invitation to visit India.
'It is a trip that I'm very much looking forward to, and I know that the Prime Minister and his gracious wife will extend great hospitality to us. 'We are also just excited because of the tremendous cultural, as well as political and social and economic
examples that India is providing the world and has in the past,' he said.
'Thank you so much for your friendship, and we look forward to working with you in the months to come, leading up to the visit, so that we know that we're going to have a very productive stay when we're in India,' Obama said. Heaping praises on ingh, Obama said at the G-20 Summit when the Prime Minister speaks people listen, particularly because of his deep knowledge of economic issues. 'As well as the fact that he understands that as India rises as a world power, not just a regional power, that it also has enormous responsibilities to work with the rest of he world community around issues of peace and prosperity,' he
said. In his remarks, Singh said it was the common endeavour f both leaders to give the Indo-US strategic partnership a
new trust, new meaning and new content. Singh said he has every reason to believe that Obama will find it a productive and exciting journey to 'a country of India's diversity, of India's complexity.'
He said the two countries are engaged in getting rid of chronic poverty, ignorance and disease, which still afflict illions and millions of people. 'And it's our common desire to work together to get id of this scourge in our lifetime. And in that, the United States' support means a great deal to us. Your personal ommitment to social justice is something we cherish,' he
said. The Prime Minister said a 'very warm welcome' awaits Obama, the First Lady Michelle and their children when they
visit India. He said during the visit, Obama can see for himself hat India is trying to do, the difficulties of managing
social and economic transformation in the framework of a democracy committed to the rule of law, committed to all fundamental human freedoms. 'I think that's what India seeks to achieve,' he said.
Obama also recalled the State Visit of Singh inNovember, when the two leaders decided to launch a Strategic dalogue between the two countries. PTI
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Secretary Nirupama Rao said the two leaders discussed thesituation in the region and they spoke of counter-terrorismcooperation in Afghanistan to stabilise the situation there. Singh briefed Obama about the peace initiatives withPakistan but made it clear that Islamabad should abide by itscommitment of not to allow terrorism emanating from its soildirected against India. The activities of Headley came up for discussion in
the light of information coming out of Pakistani-American LeToperative and the two leaders also went over the fact whether
Pakistan is serious in using this information in tacklingterror in the region. 49-year-old Headley has confessed his role in Mumbaiterror attacks and Indian investigators were given directaccess to him this month. During his interrogation, Headley
made disclosures, described as 'useful' by the investigators. Prime Minister Singh told Obama that while peaceinitiatives had their place, it was for Pakistan to showwhether it was serious about using that information to tackleterrorism in the region.
To a question, Rao said the issue of extradition offormer Union Carbide Chief Warren Anderson did not come upduring the meeting. When asked about Pakistan Interior Minister RehmanMalik's reported statement that it was not possible for either
Pakistan or India to control the likes of LeT chief HafizSaeed, she said it was possible for Pakistan to control theactivities of people like Saeed who were not doing right forrelationship between the two countries. She said Home Minister P Chidambaram during his tripto Pakistan had told them that it was India's hope that Pkistan continues to pay attention to the activities of Saeedit was still possible for Pakistan to take action against them.
The Foreign Secretary said the meeting between Singhand Obama was marked with warmth and cordiality. They referred to the strategic partnership between thetwo sides and expressed satisfaction over the currentmomentum of the relations. They discussed the situation in Afghanistan andresolved to fight terrorism. Obama said he was looking forward to his visit toIndia in November and the Prime Minister emphasised that Indiawas preparing eagerly for the visit. The President, his wife and their children would bereceived very warmly in India.
Welcoming Singh, Obama called him a 'good friend' andsaid he continues to believe that the extraordinary leadership
that the Indian Prime Minister has provided not just to his country, but to the world, has helped 'us navigate through some very difficult times.' In his opening remarks, the US President said he was very pleased to have accepted an invitation to visit India.
'It is a trip that I'm very much looking forward to, and I know that the Prime Minister and his gracious wife will extend great hospitality to us. 'We are also just excited because of the tremendous cultural, as well as political and social and economic
examples that India is providing the world and has in the past,' he said.
'Thank you so much for your friendship, and we look forward to working with you in the months to come, leading up to the visit, so that we know that we're going to have a very productive stay when we're in India,' Obama said. Heaping praises on ingh, Obama said at the G-20 Summit when the Prime Minister speaks people listen, particularly because of his deep knowledge of economic issues. 'As well as the fact that he understands that as India rises as a world power, not just a regional power, that it also has enormous responsibilities to work with the rest of he world community around issues of peace and prosperity,' he
said. In his remarks, Singh said it was the common endeavour f both leaders to give the Indo-US strategic partnership a
new trust, new meaning and new content. Singh said he has every reason to believe that Obama will find it a productive and exciting journey to 'a country of India's diversity, of India's complexity.'
He said the two countries are engaged in getting rid of chronic poverty, ignorance and disease, which still afflict illions and millions of people. 'And it's our common desire to work together to get id of this scourge in our lifetime. And in that, the United States' support means a great deal to us. Your personal ommitment to social justice is something we cherish,' he
said. The Prime Minister said a 'very warm welcome' awaits Obama, the First Lady Michelle and their children when they
visit India. He said during the visit, Obama can see for himself hat India is trying to do, the difficulties of managing
social and economic transformation in the framework of a democracy committed to the rule of law, committed to all fundamental human freedoms. 'I think that's what India seeks to achieve,' he said.
Obama also recalled the State Visit of Singh inNovember, when the two leaders decided to launch a Strategic dalogue between the two countries. PTI
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