US President Barack Obama to hold bilateral talks with Nawaz Sharif

WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama will hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today during which the two leaders are expected to discuss a range of issues including the security situation in Pakistan.

The meeting, to be held at the Oval Office of the White House, will also be attended by US Vice President Joe Biden.

"The visit will highlight the enduring nature of the US-Pakistan relationship and provide an opportunity to strengthen our cooperation on issues of mutual interest, including economic growth, trade and investment, clean energy, global health, climate change, nuclear security, counter-terrorism and regional stability," the White House said.

Biden will host a breakfast at his Naval Observatory residence for Sharif who is on a four-day visit to the US at the invitation of Obama.

"The President looks forward to discussions with Prime Minister Sharif on ways we can advance our shared interest in a stable, secure, and prosperous Pakistan," it said.

The two leaders are expected to briefly interact with the media at the end of the meeting, during which they would issue statement without taking any questions.

This will be the second bilateral meeting between the two leaders in the Oval Office. The previous one was in 2013.

Sharif in his meeting with US Secretary of State John Kerry yesterday briefed him about the "destabilising role of Indian agencies in FATA, Balochistan and Karachi," said a statement from the Pakistan government.