President Obama's visit to India.

LeT, Afghanistan to figure high in talks

Shishir GuptaPosted: Sun Oct 31 2010, 01:26 hrsNew Delhi:============================================================

President Barack Obama’s visit to India will re-affirm that both countries view Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba as a shared threat and signal Washington’s intent to offer partnership to New Delhi as a key power and leader of the Asia-Pacific region.

While the agenda of the three-day visit is still being finetuned in both the Capitals, the US president is expected to spell out the need to wipe out “terrorist sanctuaries” and infrastructure in both Pakistan and Afghanistan, with terrorist groups like the LeT being singled out as a joint threat to both the countries.

Obama’s homage to 26/11 victims and interaction with the staff of the Taj Mahal hotel in Mumbai on November 6 afternoon will also give a loud message against terrorism.

He is expected to seek Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s views on Afghanistan before his administration does a strategic review in December, even as Washington encourages New Delhi to intensify its role in infrastructure development, reconstruction and security in the war-torn country.

Even though the defence content in the bilateral visit leaves much to be desired, Obama will paper over this by this strong political message in support of India to the world.

As for his other agenda, the meeting with the youth of India at St Xavier’s college in Mumbai will be followed by Obama’s tryst with ‘Bharat’, through a video-conference with a Rajasthan panchayat on November 7.

A similar interaction with a farmer in Punjab is also being worked out. The same evening, the US President will have a quiet dinner with the Prime Minister at 7, Race Course Road. All ceremonial functions and official engagements will take place the next day (November 8).

His address to Parliament that day is expected to convey that there is no change in Washington’s vision on India, a strategic partner, despite the change from a Republican to a Democrat administration.

Although Obama is believed to have a comprehensive understanding about India, New Delhi will be at pains to showcase what the largest democracy has to offer in terms of economic engagement and bilateral cooperation.

(indian express)

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