Obama asks Pakistan to bring Mumbai perpetrators to justice

Lalit K Jha
Washington, Apr 12 (PTI) US President Barack Obama on
Monday asked Pakistani Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani to
bring the perpetrators of the Mumbai terrorist attacks to
justice, saying this would help improve the security situation
in the region.
Obama also did not commit for any civilian nuclear
deal with Pakistan on the lines of that of India.
Meeting Gilani, more than two hours after his meeting
with the Indian Prime Minister, Obama told the high-level
Pakistani delegation that Manmohan Singh was sincere in
improving ties with Islamabad, but wants Pakistan to take
action against those responsible for the Mumbai attacks.
"Obama said he feels that Prime Minister Singh is
sincere in his desire to engage Pakistan, but he (Singh) wants
Pakistan to move against those responsible for the Mumbai
attacks," said a source referring to the deliberations that
went inside the two delegations for about 40 minutes at the
Blair House.
Obama is believed to have said that he also personally
believes that Pakistan taking action against those responsible
for the Mumbai terrorist attack "would be a positive thing",
sources said, adding that there was no commitment to the
Pakistani leaders when Gilani raised the issue of a civilian
nuclear deal with the US on the lines of that of India to meet
its acute energy needs.
During the meeting the US President is understood to
have spoken on his desire to have an improved Indo-Pak
relationship arguing that he believes that this would have a
positive impact on the overall situation in the region.
Noting that both India and Pakistan are sovereign
nations, Obama felt that improvement in Indo-Pak relationship
is beneficial to both of them.

Gilani is understood to have argued that Pakistan
qualifies for such a nuclear deal and this would help it
resolve its acute energy shortage.
The Pakistani delegation included Foreign Minister
Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Pak Ambassador to the US Hussein
Haqqani, and Pak Ambassador to China Masood Khan.
Besides Obama, the US delegation included Secretary of
State Hillary Clinton, National Security Advisor Gen (rtd)
James Jones, and Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel.
Later briefing the Pakistani media, Gilani termed the
meeting as very positive.
During the meeting, Gilani invited Obama to Pakistan,
which he accepted. A date would be announced later.
"Obama began by noting that he is very fond of
Pakistan, having visited the country during college," the
White House said in a statement later.
"The President discussed with the Prime Minister
(Gilani) the bilateral progress made during the March 24-25
Strategic Dialogue and reiterated the US pledge to work with
Pakistan to address issues of mutual concern in the long-term
relationship," the White House said.
"The Prime Minister (Gilani) also indicated his
approval of the progress made during the Strategic Dialogue
and his hope that the working groups that have been
established to address various aspects of the relationship
would yield progress in advance of the next Strategic Dialogue
meeting, scheduled for late 2010 in Islamabad," it said.
According to the White House, Gilani indicated his
assurance that Pakistan takes nuclear security seriously and
has appropriate safeguards in place.
When Gilani raised the issue of civilian nuclear deal,
Obama is believed to have said that there is need to have a
proper balance between progress and security concerns.
The Pakistani officials later said that the US
President told them that he is satisfied with the measures
taken by Islamabad for the safety and security of its nuclear
weapons. PTI LKJ
PRS