Obama, Singh to discuss upcoming Indo-US Strategic Dialogue

Lalit K Jha
Washington, Apr 10 (PTI) Looking forward to meeting
India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here on Sunday, US
President Barack Obama would be discussing with the visiting
Indian leader, among other issues, the upcoming Strategic
Dialogue between the two countries, nuclear security and
Afghanistan.
This would be the first meeting between Obama and
Singh after the November 24 State Dinner last year at the
White House hosted by the US President.
"The President is very much looking forward to once
again receiving Prime Minister Singh in Washington," White
House spokesman Mike Hammer told PTI ahead of the key meeting
between the two leaders.
"During their meeting on Sunday, the President's first
bilateral meeting in advance of next week's Nuclear Security
Summit, the leaders will discuss the upcoming Strategic
Dialogue between India and the US on June 3, nuclear security
and non-proliferation and other regional and global issues of
shared interest," Hammer said.
"We expect that Afghanistan will also be a topic of
discussion, as well as the President's upcoming trip to
India," he said.
Though no date for the Obama's maiden trip to India
has been announced yet, diplomatic sources said the visit is
likely to be before the Fall.
Obama, who has a very high respect for Manmohan Singh
and considers him a global statesman, is also expected to
discuss the issue of situation in India's neighbourhood,
especially Afghanistan.
Of late, India and the US have not been on the same
page on policies related to Afghanistan in particular the
talks with the Taliban and the role of Pakistan.
The Obama Administration is sensitive to the views of
New Delhi on Afghanistan and the meeting between the two
leaders is likely to address India's concerns with regard to
the recent development in Afghanistan, post-London in
particular, sources said. PTI