President calls for rebuilding of trust in wake of Mumbai terror attacks as US state visit notches up £6bn in trade deals
Barack Obama urged India today to strengthen peace efforts with Pakistan after relations dived following the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
"My hope is that over time, trust develops between the two countries, that dialogue begins, perhaps on less controversial issues, building up to more controversial issues," Obama told a meeting of students at a college in Mumbai.
"There are more Pakistanis who've been killed by terrorists inside Pakistan than probably anywhere else."
While Obama's visit is mainly about boosting trade with India, the issue of regional stability in South Asia dominated the student meeting. Obama answered a range of questions at St Xavier college, a Jesuit institution.
When a young woman challenged him on US support of Pakistan, Obama said: "I must admit I expected [that question]."
India blames Pakistan for backing militants and claims that elements within Pakistan were behind the Mumbai attacks in 2008, when Pakistan-based gunmen killed 166 people.
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