Obama asks Pakistan to rein in LeT

Ajay Kaul
Washington, Apr 12 (PTI) After some plain speaking by
India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, US President Barack
Obama has leaned on Pakistan to rein in LeT.
Singh, who met Obama here last night, emphasised that
Pakistan needed to take "convincing action" against those
responsible for Mumbai attacks.
Meeting Pakistan Premier Yousuf Raza Gilani a couple of
hours after his discussions with Singh, Obama is believed to
have asked him to bring the perpetrators of the Mumbai
terrorist attacks to justice, saying this action would be a
positive thing in improving Indo-Pak ties.
Gilani replied in the affirmative when asked by
reporters whether some action can be expected from Pakistan
now that Obama is pressing it to bring those behind Mumbai
attacks to justice.
"Certainly," he said, adding "I am against terrorism and
always of the opinion that those who are the culprit they
should be brought to justice."
Briefing reporters on the 50-minute meeting at Blair
House between the two leaders, India's Foreign Secretary
Nirupama Rao said Singh made it clear that "future of South
Asia would be determined by the manner in which terrorism is
tackled".
The Indian Prime Minister also voiced apprehensions about
misuse of US military supplies to Pakistan, prompting Obama to
assure him that India's concerns in this regard would be kept
in mind while dealing with the issue.
Obama also said he favoured reduction of tensions between
India and Pakistan.
The US President told Singh that Washington was
"supportive" of India's request for access to Mumbai attacks
accused and Lashkar-e-Taiba operative David Headley and it was
"working through legal systems" on the matter.
Obama said the US understood India's concerns with
regard to activities of Lashkar-e Taiba and other terror
groups from Pakistan and Afghanistan and that Washington was
"engaging" Pakistan on these issues.
While talking about the menace of terrorism emanating
from Pakistan, Singh referred to Headley, activities of LeT
and its chief Hafiz Mohd Saeed and al-Qaeda-linked HuJI leader
Ilyas Kashmiri, Rao said.
"Unfortunately, there is no will on part of Pakistan to
punish those responsible for terrorist attacks in Mumbai,"
Rao quoted the Indian Prime Minister as telling Obama.
"This is where partnership of India and the US could
make the difference," Singh told Obama. (More) PTI