‘Obama likely to ask Modi to resume talks with Pakistan’

NEW YORK: US President Barack Obama is likely to raise with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi the issue of how the two nuclear-armed neighbours can resume dialogue and reduce their hostilities when the two leaders hold talks during the American leader’s shortened trip to India, The Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday.
Citing administration officials and analysts, the newspaper noted that Obama’s visit to India comes at a time of escalating tensions between India and Pakistan.
The pursuit of dialogue “is something that the United States has consistently supported, and we will continue to do so,” Ben Rhodes, White House deputy national-security adviser, told a briefing Wednesday.
“President Obama is likely to urge Prime Minister Modi to resume some kind of dialogue with Pakistan,” White said.
“To avoid being seen as chiding his host, the president probably intends to deliver this message behind closed doors.”