Obama speaks to PM, discusses bin Laden's killing

Washington, May 10: US President Barack Obama telephoned Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and discussed the successful American action against Osama bin Laden in Pakistan and the situation in the region.

"President Obama spoke with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to discuss the successful American action against Osama bin Laden," said a statement issued by White House last night.

However, it did not give further details. This is the first conversation between the two leaders since the killing of bin Laden on May 2 in a covert raid by US Special Forces in the garrison city of Abbotabad.

The statement said the two leaders also reviewed progress in implementing the initiatives launched during Obama's November 2010 visit to India.

"The two leaders re-affirmed their commitment to building a global, strategic partnership, including defence cooperation, and looked forward to the upcoming meetings of the Strategic Dialogue, the Homeland Security Dialogue, the Joint Space Working Group, and the High-Technology Cooperation Group," the statement said.

The two leaders also discussed global and regional issues of mutual concern, it said .

Singh had termed bin Laden's killing as a significant step forward and asked the international community and Pakistan in particular to work comprehensively to end the activities of all terror groups.

The Prime Minister had hoped that bin Laden's elimination would deal a "decisive blow" to al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups".

The telephonic talk came on a day when the US President raised questions about the possibility that "some people inside of government" in Pakistan may have been involved in providing support structure for the slain terrorist.

India has told America on many occasions that Pakistan remains a safe haven for terrorists, especially after the 2008 Mumbai attacks, blamed on Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba.

PTI