New Delhi : US President Barack Obama has said that safe havens of terrorism within Pakistan is “not acceptable" and that those behind the 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai must face justice.

Ahead of his visit to India, Obama said the US will keep working with India for a future that delivers greater security, prosperity and dignity for all people. Asserting that his country has been unrelenting in its fight against terrorist groups, he said, “I’ve made it clear that even as the United States works with Pakistan to meet the threat of terrorism, safe havens within Pakistan are not acceptable and that those behind the Mumbai terrorist attack must face justice."

His comments assume significance amid renewed questions in India over Pakistan’s sincerity in ensuring punishment to the perpetrators of Mumbai terror attack. The questions arose after the attack mastermind Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi was granted bail by an Islamabad court in December.

Obama noted that Americans were also killed in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, just like Indians were killed in the 9/11 attack in New York.

To send a strong message to the Indian people that “we stand together in defence of our security and our way of life", he had made the Taj Mahal Palace hotel in Mumbai his first stop during his first visit to India in 2010, he said in an email interview to India Today.

Upbeat about his upcoming three-day visit to India, which he described as the US’s “natural partner", Obama said he was proud to be the first US President to visit the country twice.

Obama said he saw it as an opportunity to work with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make concrete progress and to “hopefully begin a new era" in the history between the two countries.

Recalling his unveiling his vision during his last visit here, Obama said “While it’s true that progress has not always come as fast as we would have liked, we’ve succeeded in deepening the US-India relationship across the board."

Noting that no two nations agree on everything, he said, “so of course, sometimes India and the United States will disagree. But I believe that we can work through any differences in a spirit of mutual respect".

He said, “When those of us at the leadership level agree on action, our governments have to actually implement our decisions. We have to make sure our words are matched by deeds."

The two countries can work together to reduce barriers to trade, investment, and high-tech collaboration, he said, adding that American firms are ready to help build the infrastructure that will be the catalyst for the next wave of Indian growth.

He had special praise for Modi, saying “his remarkable life story—from tea-seller to prime minister—is a reflection of the determination of the Indian people to succeed."

He added that Modi has a clear vision of big things that he wants India to achieve.

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