M A I N   N E W S

Post-Laden, PM, Obama discuss situation in region
Ashok Tuteja/TNS

New Delhi, May 9
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh spoke to US President Barack Obama this evening and the two leaders discussed the situation in the region in the wake of Al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden’s killing deep inside Pakistan.

Official sources said it was a warm conversation in which they covered wide-ranging subjects, including steps to further develop Indo-US ties.

This was the first conversation between the two leaders after Laden’s killing by the US forces in Abbottabad. The US President had spoken to a few world leaders before he went on air last week to announce the killing of the Al-Qaida chief. However, New Delhi was informed about the killing by a senior US official.

The conversation is also being considered significant in diplomatic circles in view of the situation in Afghanistan from where the US-led coalition forces are expected to start withdrawing from July. India would, however, like the coalition troops to remain in the war-ravaged nation till the situation stabilises.

New Delhi believes that it has become all the more necessary for the US-led forces to stay the course in Afghanistan since the threat of terrorism in the region has not diminished even after Osama’s death.

The PM is expected to travel to Afghanistan soon to reassure the Afghan leadership of India’s commitment to go ahead with its massive reconstruction programme as the endgame begins in the embattled country.