Obama tells Sharif to bring Mumbai attackers to book, clamp down on Hafiz Saeed

Islamabad, October 24: President Barack Obama has raised the issue of punishing the perpetrators of the Mumbai terror attacks that killed more than 167 people in November 2008, and clamp down on the banned Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) led by Hafiz Saeed, during his meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the White House on Wednesday. Obama also discussed the release of Dr. Shakil Afridi, who helped the CIA to locate Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in November 2011 in Abbottabad, the Daily Times reports. Sharif and Obama also agreed to work out a joint strategy on counter-terrorism and extremism, the report adds. The two leaders agreed that their partnership was based on principles of respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. They also welcomed the resumption of the U.S.-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue and discussed the forthcoming ministerial-level Strategic Dialogue. They also decided on the strategic priorities for the five working groups, which are as follows: 1) Law enforcement and counterterrorism; 2) Economics and finance; 3) Energy; 4) Security, strategic stability, and non-proliferation; and 5) the Defence Consultative Group. (ANI)