Before he lands in New Delhi for a three-day visit and attends the Republic Day celebrations as chief guest, US President Barack Obama has sent a terse message to India's neighbour Pakistan saying safe havens of terrorism within that country are not acceptable and that those behind the 26/11 Mumbai attack must face justice.
“I’ve made it clear that even as the United States works with Pakistan to meet the threat of terrorism, safe havens within Pakistan are not acceptable and that those behind the Mumbai terrorist attack must face justice. like people around the world, Indians and Americans were horrified at the senseless slaughter of so many students and teachers at the school in Peshawar, which was a painful reminder that terrorists threaten us all,” Obama said in an interview to India Today magazine.
Obama’s statement gives boost to Indian efforts to seek Pakistan’s sincerity in ensuring punishment to the perpetrators of the 26/11 terror attack in 2008 besides, keeping a check on anti-India baiters in Pakistan. The President asserted that the US has been unrelenting in its fight against terrorist groups, “A fight in which Indians and Americans are united. Indians were tragically killed on 9/11, as were Americans on 26/11. On my previous visit to India, my first stop was the memorial at the Taj Hotel to pay my respects to the victims, meet with survivors and send a strong message to the Indian people that we stand together in defence of our security and our way of life,” Obama said.
He added that working with allies and partners, the US has decimated the al-Qaeda leadership in the tribal regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan and taken out leaders of al-Qaeda affiliates in Yemen and Somalia. “Even though our combat mission is over in Afghanistan, we'll continue to help train and equip Afghan forces and engage in counter-terrorism missions to prevent al-Qaeda's return there. I would add that we are grateful for the generous assistance that India has provided over many years to help the Afghan people improve their lives,” he said.
Preferring to call India its natural ally rather than a strategic partner Obama added that he sees the possibility of partnering with India on issues as diverse as fighting terrorism, climate change and Ebola. On his upcoming visit to India, Obama said he was proud to be the first US President to visit this country twice while adding that he saw it as an opportunity to work with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make concrete progress and to “hopefully begin a new era in the history between our countries”.
He said Modi's election and his commitment to a new chapter in the relationship gives the two countries motivation to further energise the partnership. “I'd like to think that the stars are aligned to finally realise the vision I outlined in Parliament (of India).” Recalling his last visit to India, Obama said: “While it's true that progress has not always come as fast as we would have liked, we've succeeded in deepening the US-India relationship across the board,” while noting that no two nations agree on everything. “So of course, sometimes India and the United States will disagree. But I believe that we can work through any differences in a spirit of mutual respect.”