WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama called Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday and discussed his administration’s efforts to improve India-Pakistan relations, the White House said.

The US president made the call to “discuss bilateral and regional issues” with the PM and both leaders expressed “the intent to meet at a mutually convenient time,” said a statement the White House issued after the call.

“The two leaders agreed to continue to work together to strengthen US-Pakistan relations and advance our shared interest of a stable, secure, and prosperous Pakistan and region,” the White House said.

President Obama “discussed his recent visit to India, and noted that the United States supports all efforts by both nations to improve ties”.

President Obama also welcomed the improved relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan, “and noted appreciation for Pakistan’s efforts to combat terrorism”.

A spokesman for the Prime Minister’s Office in Islamabad also issued a similar statement, noting that the conversation continued for half an hour.

Mr Obama said that his country really appreciated Pakistan’s positive relationship with Afghanistan and noted that the Zarb-i-Azab operation was successfully progressing, the spokesman said.

Mr Sharif told the US leader that Pakistan was concerned about the moves to make India a permanent member of the UN Security Council, as New Delhi had never implemented UN resolutions on Kashmir.

Mr Sharif also expressed the desire to make Pakistan a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, the spokesman said.

Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States, Jalil Abbas Jilani, said that President Obama’s decision to speak to the prime minister both before and after his visit to India underlined “the importance the US attaches to Pakistan”.

“This is also reflective of the growing nature of relations between Pakistan and the US,” said Mr Jilani while talking to Dawn.

In his new security policy, released last month, the Obama administration stressed that its relations with both Pakistan and India were important and it wanted to maintain both.

Ambassador Jilani noted that the US-Pakistan strategic dialogue was also moving forward, covering key issues like regional security, nuclear non-proliferation, and strategic stability. The US side also acknowledged the safety and security of Pakistan’s nuclear assets.

He said that while Pakistan appreciated the need to reform UNSC, it was against creating new privilege centres within the UN.

He noted that India had been constantly violating UNSC resolutions on Kashmir and was also the worst violator of human rights in the valley, which was occupied by force.

Published in Dawn February 13th , 2015

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