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WASHINGTON: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was to open talks Monday on a high-profile state visit to the United States where he encouraged President Barack Obama to fight Islamic extremism in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The Indian premier was scheduled to address business leaders and US foreign policy scholars on the first full-fledged state visit of Obama's presidency, which will culminate in a swank black-tie dinner at the White House on Tuesday.
While a host of issues are on the table, experts said Obama's main intention was to demonstrate his commitment to the world's largest democracy after an early focus on working with its neighbors China and Pakistan.
Singh appeared eager to weigh in on the top foreign issue for Obama - Afghanistan. Obama is wrapping up weeks of deliberation on whether to reinforce the 68,000 US troops who will be in Afghanistan by year-end.
"It is very important that both the US and the global community stay engaged in Afghanistan," Singh told The Washington Post and Newsweek ahead of his arrival on Sunday, warning of civil war if US forces withdrew.
Singh also called for the Obama administration to pressure Pakistan to rein in Islamic extremists, saying that India's historic rival has not done enough against militants blamed for last year's chilling assault on Mumbai.
"We have been the victims of Pakistan-aided, -abetted and -inspired terrorism for nearly 25 years. We would like the United States to use all its influence with Pakistan to desist from that path," Singh said in the interview.
"Pakistan has nothing to fear from India. It is a tragedy that Pakistan has come to the point of using terror as an instrument of state policy," he said.
He doubted that Pakistan and the United States had the same objectives in Afghanistan, saying that Islamabad's main interest was to maintain a grip on its northern neighbour.
"I don't see Pakistan wholeheartedly in support of action against the Taliban in Afghanistan. They of course are taking action against the Taliban, but only when it threatens the supremacy of the army," he said.
Pakistan was the chief backer of the Taliban regime until the 11 September 2001 attacks, when it turned overnight into the frontline US partner in dislodging the hardline Islamic militia.
Obama has expanded his strategy to focus on reducing the appeal of Islamic radicals in Pakistan. With Obama's backing, Congress approved a giant, 7.5-billion-dollar development package for Pakistan - which has provoked unease among many Indians who fear lax oversight.
Singh questioned whether President Asif Ali Zardari had full control of Pakistan. Zardari took office in 2008, ending a decade in power by former army chief Pervez Musharraf.
"There is democracy, we would like democracy to succeed and flourish in Pakistan, but we have to recognize that the power today rests virtually with the army," Singh said in a separate interview to CNN.
Singh said he also hoped Obama would complete the final technicalities to complete an accord championed by former US president George W. Bush related to India's status on civilian nuclear energy markets.
Singh dismissed talk that India was nervous about Obama, saying that political and cultural affinities brought the world's two largest democracies together.
"I have no apprehension that our relations with the United States would in any way suffer because of the change of administration," Singh told CNN.
Both houses of the US Congress approved resolutions welcoming Singh and calling for greater cooperation with India.
The unanimity symbolized a change from just a few years ago, when some lawmakers fought the nuclear deal because of India's refusal to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
But Obama and Singh are unlikely to see eye-to-eye on one key issue - climate change.
India and the United States have both urged the other side to commit to more action ahead of next month's high-stakes Copenhagen summit.
- AFP/sc
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