Howard Berman meets PM, discusses AfPak crisis
April 18th, 2009 - 12:34 am ICT by IANS
New Delhi, April 17 (IANS) A US Congressional delegation led by House Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Howard Berman met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Friday and discussed terrorism and the situation in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Berman is leading a seven-member delegation, including Congressmen Gary Ackerman, Ted Royce and Jim Costa to India.
The Congressional delegation also met National Security Advisor M.K. Narayanan and Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon.
Issues relating to the worsening security situation in Pakistan, the deal with the Taliban in Swat Valley in the North West Frontier Province and the growing violence in Afghanistan figured prominently in discussions between the two sides, reliable sources said.
Indian officials conveyed New Delhi’s reservations about giving aid worth billions of dollars to Pakistan which, it fears, may be diverted for anti-India terror activities.
Berman comes here days after introducing the Pakistan Enduring Assistance and Cooperation Enhancement (PEACE) Bill in the US Congress which links aid to Pakistan to commitments on ending terror activities against India.
The bill seeks to give $1.5 billion a year for five years to Pakistan in economic and social assistance sectors.
India’s role in stabilizing the violence-torn Afghanistan was also discussed. Last month, US President Barack Obama unveiled the US AfPak policy, which envisages the setting up of a regional contact group comprising India, China, Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states for stabilizing the AfPak region.
- India, US pitch for Afghan-led reconciliation process - Jan 20, 2012
- Britain asks Pakistan to finish Haqqani network - Dec 02, 2011
- India, US to discuss AfPak issues Monday - Jan 16, 2010
- India expresses concern over US military aid to Pakistan - Jul 23, 2010
- India's work in Afghanistan critically important: US envoy - Apr 19, 2010
- Holbrooke meets Krishna, discusses AfPak situation - Jan 18, 2010
- India 'pleased' with Obama's AfPak focus on Taliban, Al Qaeda - Dec 03, 2009
- India, Afghanistan to jointly combat terror (Lead) - Feb 03, 2011
- India, Afghanistan to ensure terrorists are denied safe havens - Aug 25, 2010
- US never asked India to scale down in Afghanistan: sources - Mar 19, 2010
- US AfPak envoy backs Indian investment in Afghanistan, strategic pact - Oct 12, 2011
- Taliban threat from AfPak real: Air chief - Apr 28, 2012
- Avoid public criticism of Pakistan, Zardari urges US - Nov 08, 2011
- Pakistan is the challenge, say US lawmakers - Dec 10, 2009
- India promises to continue training Afghan security forces (Lead) (With images) - Jun 01, 2011
Tags: barack obama, china russia, congressional delegation, foreign relations committee, frontier province, gary ackerman, house foreign relations committee, howard berman, india china, jim costa, manmohan singh, member delegation, national security advisor, north west frontier, prime minister manmohan, prime minister manmohan singh, situation in pakistan, swat valley, terror activities, worth billions