Obama discusses Osama operation with PM Manmohan Singh

PTI

New Delh, May 10, 2011:  Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and US President Barack Obama spoke over the phone on Monday night and discussed the American operation that killed Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad in Pakistan and also talked about the situation in the region.

 

A PMO spokesman said Singh and Obama also discussed further growth and development of Indo-US relations. "It was a warm conversation which covered wide-ranging subjects," he said.

 

A statement issued by White House in Washington said Obama spoke to Singh to discuss the "successful American action against Osama bin Laden." However, it did not give further details.

 

This is the first conversation between the two leaders since the killing of Osama on May 2 in a raid by US Special Forces in the garrison city of Abbottabad.

 

 

The White House 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.

 

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".