India, US to partner for global security

US President Barack Obama and prime minister Manmohan Singh gave final shape to their bilateral talks with a joint announcement of an India-US partnership for global security at the United Nations Security Council.

The statement, issued during President Obama's grand dinner at Rashtrapati Bhavan hosted by President Pratibha Patil, said both Obama and Manmohan Singh would work together for a stable world.

While details of the global partnership arrangement are yet to be worked out, the US has agreed to consult India and China on all strategic issues concerning Asia, and East Asia in particular.

The Obama-Manmohan joint statement called on Pakistan to destroy all terror groups operating within that country, including the Laskar-e-Tayyeba and to bring the perpetrators of the ghastly Mumbai attacks of 2008 to justice.

Prime minister Manmohan Singh and President Obama had earlier held bilateral talks on issues of mutual concern, including defence deals and counter terrorism.

Supporting India's stand on Afghanistan, the joint statement said both India and the US would work jointly for a stable Afghanistan.