Obama looks forward to welcome Indian PM

Washington, Oct 12: President Barack Obama said that he was looking forward to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's first state visit of his presidency in Nov 2009.

While returning Manmohan's call to congratulate him for the Nobel win, Obama expressed concern regarding the Indian Embassy attack in Kabul.

"Late on Saturday morning, President Obama returned Indian Prime Minister Singh's phone call. Prime Minister Singh had called President Obama on Friday to congratulate him on having won the Nobel Peace Prize," the White House said in a statement.

"The president also underscored his concern for the attack on the Indian embassy in Kabul and said that he looked forward to receiving the prime minister in Washington later this year," the statement said.

"The president expressed his appreciation for the call and congratulations. He noted that he was humbled and grateful for having received the Nobel, and that he saw it as a call to collective action on shared challenges," the statement said.

Obama and his wife Michelle would host Manmohan Singh for his first state dinner at the White House on Tuesday, Nov 24.

"I think it goes without saying that India is an important ally," said Gibbs.

"And obviously we continue to be very engaged with the Indians to bring about peace in obviously an important region of the world," he said.

OneIndia News