Obama, Singh Differ Over Pakistan, Kashmir,  Emphasize US-Indian cooperation

Obama, Singh differ over Pakistan, Kashmir

NEW DELHI, Nov. 8, 2010 (Xinhua) --

 The United States and India Monday apparently showed differences over Pakistan and Kashmir, with U.S. President Barack Obama calling on India and Pakistan to set up a mechanism to solve their disputes through talks.

But Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh responded by saying that India cannot talk with Pakistan while the "machine of terror is on".

At a joint press conference with Singh after holding official talks at the Hyderabad House here, Obama said it was in the interest of New Delhi and Islamabad to reduce tensions between them and that Kashmir is a long-standing issue between India and Pakistan which must be solved between the two nations.

"The U.S. cannot impose solutions to these problems. I have indicated to Prime Minister that we are happy to play any role the parties think is appropriate in reducing tensions. It is in the interest of the two countries, region and the U.S.," he said.

"So, my hope is that conversations may be taking place between the two countries but they may not start on that particular flash point he said, adding that he was convinced that it was in the mutual interest of the two countries to have a dialogue on the disputed region.

Singh, however, made it clear that it was not shunning discussions but terror from across the border must stop and maintained that a strong, peaceful and moderate Pakistan was in the interest of India, South Asia and world.

"We are committed to engaging Pakistan. We are committed to resolving all outstanding issues between our two countries including the word 'K' (Kashmir). We are not afraid of that," the Indian PM said.

In a related development, the Chief Minister of Indian - controlled Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, said he expected the U.S. not to mediate but to facilitate dialogue process between India and Pakistan.

"What role I would like to see President Obama or any U.S. administration to play is the one that they have been so far playing from time to time -- that is to facilitate the process between India and Pakistan," he said.

"We are extremely sensitive to anything that appears even close to mediation and that obviously is not acceptable," Abdullah said in Kashmir's winter capital Jammu.

 Editor: Tang Danlu

NEW DELHI, Nov. 8, 2010 (Xinhua) --

U.S. President Barack Obama Monday described India as a "world power" and emphasized that the two countries can work together on issues like counter-terrorism to promote peace and stability for the whole world.

"Given that India is not simply an emerging power but now it is a world power, U.S. and India can work together to promote international principles, rules, relations between nations they can promote peace, stability, prosperity not only for just two nations but for the whole world," Obama said in a statement to the media here.

The U.S. president asserted that his trip was to bolster what is already an incredible friendship that would be one of the defining partnerships of the 21st Century, to build on commercial ties and strengthen cooperation in bilateral relations and international economy.

"My hope is that during these discussions between myself and prime minister, myself and (Indian) president and other members of the Indian delegation, we will be able to build on commercial ties that we already have to strengthen cooperation in bilateral relations and international economy," he said.

Obama made the statements to the media after a ceremonial reception accorded to him at the Rashtrapati Bhavan (Indian President's House) in the national capital on the third day of his tour to this country.

Earlier, President Obama and U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama were welcomed warmly at the Rashtrapati Bhavan by Indian President Pratibha Patil and her husband Devisingh Patil. They were also greeted by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife before given a ceremonial guard of honor.

Obama then left for Rajghat to pay tribute at the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi who he considers as his "real hero".

This is the second time for him to pay homage to the founding father of modern India during his India visit, after he visited the Gandhi museum in Mumbai on Saturday.