PM meets Obama,says Pakistan remains ‘epicentre of terror’

India's concerns over tight immigration rules in the US among the highlights of the meeting.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday held talks with US President Barack Obama,the first bilateral summit meeting after nearly three years. Accompanied by External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid,NSA Shivshankar Menon,Foreign Secretary Sujata Singh and Ambassador Nirupama Rao,Singh arrived at the White House for delegation-level talks that covered the stalemate in the ties over a civil nuclear deal finalised five years ago.

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In the wake of the twin terror attacks near Jammu yesterday,Singh is believed to have articulated India’s concerns over terror emanating from Pakistani soil and the need for Islamabad to rein in elements responsible for the violence.

Manmohan-Obama meeting to boost strategic Indo-US ties

Trade and other issues,including India’s concerns over tight immigration rules in the US that affect IT professionals,also figured in the meeting.

PM likely to discuss LeT activities,Hafiz Saeed in Indo-US meet

Meanwhile,asserting that Pakistan remains the “epicentre of terror”,Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said expectations have to be “toned down” over his meeting with Nawaz Sharif on Sunday.

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Addressing the media after talks with President Barack Obama,he said the expectations have to be lowered given the terror arm which is still active in our sub-continent.Though the Prime Minister said he was looking forward to the meeting with Sharif in New York,the strong words relating to Pakistan come against the grim backdrop of the twin terror strikes near Jammu yesterday and strident calls back home to call off the meeting.

On his talks with Obama,he said,”We discussed the situation in the region,including Afghanistan and Pakistan. I explained to President Obama the difficulties that we face given the fact that the epicentre of terror still remains focussed in Pakistan.

“I look forward to meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif even though the expectations have to be toned down given the terror arm which is still active in our sub continent.” On his part,Obama said both of them discussed Afghanistan and Pakistan.

“We had a chance to discuss Pakistan and our shared interest in seeing a peaceful reduction of tensions on the

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subcontinent. “We want to very much thank Prime Minister Singh for what has been a consistent interest in improving cooperation between India and Pakistan,” Obama said praising the efforts of the Prime Minister in improving relationship with Pakistan.