Pakistan optimistic about winning US support against India

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has expressed optimism about winning US support against India during his meeting with President Barrack Obama on October 22, the media reported on Friday.

The English daily The Nation cited the Pakistan foreign ministry as saying that the meeting will give Sharif a chance to rebut India's claims that Islamabad was disturbing regional peace and sponsoring terrorism.

At a meeting on Thursday with Advisor on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Sharif had expressed confidence that his upcoming visit to the US will improve relationship between the two countries.

The Sharif-Obama meeting was intended to "advance our mutual interests and address areas of concern, particularly terrorist and militant attacks emanating from Pakistani soil", The Nation cited a US National Security Council statement as saying.

The US and India have agreed to deepen cooperation in fighting terrorism and asked Pakistan to bring to justice the 2008 Mumbai attack perpetrators.

While addressing the UN General Assembly, Sharif had proposed a four-point "new peace initiative" calling for demilitarising Kashmir and the Siachen heights, and formalising the 2003 ceasefire.

In response, India said Pakistan "must stop supporting terrorism" before bilateral talks can be held.

A foreign ministry official here said Sharif will take up Pakistan's case before President Obama and present proof of India's "interference in Pakistan".

"Sharif will tell Obama how much Pakistan has lost in the war on terror," he added.

"India has been presenting us as promoters of terrorism. The PM will tell Obama who the real culprit is," he maintained.

"The PM will urge the US president to play neutral," he said.

He said Pakistan has always encouraged dialogue with India for sustainable peace in the region.