PM meets Obama today, will discuss Lashkar and Hafiz Saeed in talks on terror

Washington: Terror groups operating from Pakistan will be high on the agenda when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh meets US President Barack Obama at the White House today, a day after terror strikes in Jammu and Kashmir led to opposition demands to scrap the PM-Nawaz Sharif meet on Sunday.

Terror mastermind Hafiz Saeed, who roams free in Pakistan despite India's demands for action against him, and the Lashkar-e-Taiba will also be on the agenda with Obama, Indian Ambassador Nirupama Rao told NDTV.

The Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba is allegedly behind the twin terror strikes in Jammu on Thursday. Three Lashkar terrorists who had crossed over from the border with Pakistan, attacked a police station and an army camp in Jammu, dressed in fatigues, and killed 10 people including a Lieutenant Colonel of the Indian Army.  (Terror strikes Jammu and Kashmir 72 hours before PM-Nawaz Sharif talks, 10 killed)

The attacks have sharpened India's resolve to take up its concerns on terror from Pakistan soil, said Nirupama Rao ahead of the PM-Obama meet.

"Obviously we will articulate our concerns and I think the opportunity is provided by this meeting to also express how much we continue to be threatened by terror and by activities of groups who operate with impunity on Pakistani soil," she said.  (Watch video)

When asked if talks on LeT and 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed will also be on agenda, she answered in the affirmative and said, "These are issues that certainly fall under the purview of what we discuss between the two governments."

Dr Singh is scheduled to meet Nawaz Sharif on Sunday on the sidelines of a UN meeting amid a huge debate back home over whether the meeting should take place at all.

In a statement yesterday, Dr Singh called the strikes "barbaric actions by enemies of peace" and made it clear that his plans to meet Mr Sharif remain unchanged. "We will not allow it to derail our attempts to find resolution through the dialogue process," the PM said.

The BJP has slammed the PM's 'fixation' on dialogue with Pakistan. "Mr Prime Minister - No dialogue over dead bodies. Please cancel your meeting with Nawaz Sharif," said BJP leader Sushma Swaraj.