Pakistan promises action against LeT; Kashmir figures in joint statement

Pakistan managed to get a call for an India-Pakistan dialogue to resolve all issues including Kashmir included in a joint statement in return for an assurance that Islamabad would take effective action against Pakistan based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and its affiliates.

The assurance of Islamabad's resolve to take action against the Pakistani terror outfit responsible for Nov 2008 Mumbai terror attack was contained in a joint statement issued by the Pakistan foreign office after Sharif met US President Barack Obama on Thursday in the Oval office in White House.

The two leaders, according to the Pakistani statement, expressed concern over violence along the Line of Control in Kashmir, and noted their support for confidence-building measures and effective mechanisms that are acceptable to both parties.

"The leaders emphasised the importance of a sustained and resilient dialogue process between the two neighbours aimed at resolving all outstanding territorial and other disputes, including Kashmir, through peaceful means and working together to address mutual concerns of India and Pakistan regarding terrorism," it said.

"In this context, the Prime Minister apprised the President about Pakistan's resolve to take effective action against United Nations-designated terrorist individuals and entities, including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and its affiliates, as per its international commitments and obligations under UN Security Council resolutions and the Financial Action Task Force," the statement added

Obama and Sharif, it said "stressed that improvement in Pakistan-India bilateral relations would greatly enhance prospects for lasting peace, stability, and prosperity in the region."

The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to advancing economic connectivity between Pakistan and its neighbours to promote regional prosperity, it said.

They acknowledged that strengthening Pakistan's trade and transit ties with its neighbours is needed to promote prosperity in Pakistan and the region.

Sharif also "reaffirmed that Pakistan's territory will not be used against any other country and noted that this is an obligation of all countries in the region."

Both leaders affirmed that regional peace and stability required the prevention of attacks across the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

Sharif, it said, outlined the actions that Pakistan is taking under the National Action Plan to ensure that the Taliban - including the Haqqani Network - are unable to operate from the soil of Pakistan.

Earlier, welcoming Sharif to the White House, Obama said he looked forward to using the meeting as an opportunity to further deepen the longstanding relationship between the US and Pakistan.

"Obviously, the United States and Pakistan have a longstanding relationship," he said. "We work and cooperate on a whole host of issues -- not just on security matters, but also on economic and scientific and educational affairs."

"And we're looking forward to using this meeting as an opportunity to further deepen the relationship between the United States and Pakistan," Obama said.

(Arun Kumar can be contacted at arun.kumar@ians.in)