PM to Obama: Pak must act against terror directed towards India

TORONTO: India today told the US that Pakistan should realise the importance of the disclosures made by LeT operative David Headley and take action against terrorism emanating from its soil directed towards it.

India's concerns were conveyed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to US President Barack Obama during a half-hour meeting between them on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit here.

Briefing reporters about the meeting, foreign secretary Nirupama Rao said the two leaders discussed the situation in the region and they spoke of counter-terrorism in Afghanistan to stabilise the situation there.

Singh briefed Obama about the peace initiatives with Pakistan but made it clear that Islamabad should abide by its commitment of not to allow terrorism emanating from its soil directed against India.

The activities of Headley came up for discussion in the light of information coming out of Pakistani-American LeT operative and the two leaders also went over the fact whether Pakistan is serious in using this information in tackling terror in the region.

The Prime Minister told Obama that while peace initiatives had their place, it was for Pakistan to show whether it was serious about using that information to tackle terrorism in the region.

To a question, Rao said the issue of extradition of former Union Carbide Chief Warren Anderson did not come up during the meeting.

When asked about Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik's reported statement that it was not possible for either Pakistan or India to control the likes of LeT chief Hafiz Saeed, she said it was possible for Pakistan to control the activities of people like Saeed who were not doing right for relationship between the two countries.

She said Home Minister P Chidambaram during his trip to Pakistan had told them that it was India's hope that Pakistan continues to pay attention to the activities of Saeed it was still possible for Pakistan to take action against them.

The Foreign Secretary said the meeting between Singh and Obama was marked with warmth and cordiality.

They referred to the strategic partnership between the two sides and expressed satisfaction over the current momentum of the relations.

They discussed the situation in Afghanistan and resolved to fight terrorism.

Obama said he was looking forward to his visit to India in November and the Prime Minister emphasised that India was preparing eagerly for the visit.

The President, his wife and their children would be received very warmly in India.