Afghanistan to feature prominently during Sharif-Obama talks

U.S. President Barack Obama's decision to keep American troops in Afghanistan till 2017 will take the centre stage during his meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, according to foreign policy insiders.

Seen as one of the most anticipated meetings, the talks may take up issues like Pakistan's expanding nuclear weapons arsenal, its growing relations with China, strategic, trade and other issues, the Washington Times reported Thursday.

Sharif's visit has come three months after the talks between Afghan government and Taliban collapsed. The Obama administration is said to be keen to pressurise Pakistan to make efforts to bring the militants back to talks table.

In the last few years, China has invested heavily in Pakistan's infrastructure and is also building two new nuclear power plants in the country. These growing ties between the two nations will also be discussed by the United States on Thursday.

There will also be a push from the Pakistani for a new civil nuclear power agreement with the US similar to what George W. Bush administration signed with India in 2005.