Obama to visit Pakistan in 2011 (IndiaPost)

NEW YORK: Even as President Barack Obama is readying to pack his bags for his three-day India trip he called Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari to convey his intent to visit Pakistan in 2011.

In a telephone call on Oct 26, President Obama not only conveyed his intention to visit Pakistan next year, but also welcomed President Zardari to visit the US in the coming year.

President Obama called President Zardari to consult with him on the progress made during the recent US-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue, and to reinforce America’s commitment to partner with Pakistan on economic, development, and governance priorities.
A White House statement says the two Presidents also discussed the progress that the US and Pakistan have made towards strengthening bilateral relations within the past two years. President Obama particularly highlighted the commitment of both Secretary Clinton and Foreign Minister Qureshi to the US-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue.

Both President Obama and President Zardari acknowledged that more work needed to be done to address the direct threat to the two countries posed by terrorist groups in Pakistan.

Belying reports of distrust on the Afghanistan front, the two are stated to have agreed that the US and Pakistan have worked hard to build an atmosphere of trust and cooperation, and committed to ongoing efforts to build a stronger, strategic, and more collaborative US-Pakistan relationship.

President Obama further emphasized the United States’ commitment and support for democracy and transparency in Pakistan. He also acknowledged Pakistan’s economic difficulties, and encouraged President Zardari to work to pass key economic reforms, such as tax reform and containing energy subsidies.

(IndiaPost)