Monday, November 23, 2009 WASHINGTON: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday started a high-profile state visit to the United States with a call on President Barack Obama to stay committed on Afghanistan and pressure Pakistan.The Indian premier arrived at Andrews Air Force Base near Washington to kick off 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 say 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.But Singh made clear he would not shy away from offering advice 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 said in an interview with USA’s The Washington Post and Newsweek, 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's 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 neighbor.
BEIRUT: Thousands of people converged Saturday on central Beirut to mark the fourth anniversary of the assassination of Lebanese former premier Rafiq Hariri.Waving Lebanese flags and carrying pictures of the slain leader, men, women and children gathered under sunny skies in Martyr's Square where members of the parliamentary majority were to address the crowd. The rally comes as final preparations are underway in The Hague for the launch of the international tribunal set up to bring Hariri's killers to justice. It also comes as the country prepares for legislative elections in June that will pit Western-backed political parties against a Hezbollah-led alliance backed by Syria and Iran.Hariri died in a massive car bombing on February 14, 2005 that also killed 22 others. The assassination was widely blamed on then Lebanese power-broker Syria, which has denied any involvement. The attack on the Beirut seafront was one of the worst acts of political violence to rock Lebanon since t...
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