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    March 27, 2012

Obama Calls for 'Balanced' Pakistani Review of Ties with US


   Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, left, and U.S.
   President Barack Obama smile during their bilateral meeting on the
   sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul, March 27, 2012.
   Photo: AP
   Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, left, and U.S.
   President Barack Obama smile during their bilateral meeting on the
   sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul, March 27, 2012.

   U.S. President Barack Obama says he hopes Pakistan's parliament will
   take a "balanced approach" in its review of ties with the United
   States.
   Obama spoke to reporters in Seoul moments before private talks with
   Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani Tuesday.
   The president said he would like the see the lawmakers respect U.S.
   national security interests in their review, including its need to
   battle terrorists who have targeted Americans.
   Tense relations

   Relations between the United States and Pakistan have been troubled
   since U.S. airstrikes killed 24 Pakistani soldiers near the Afghan
   border in November, after U.S. forces returned fire they believed came
   from a border post.
   Many Pakistani lawmakers are demanding a U.S. apology and an end to
   U.S. drone attacks inside Pakistan.
   Pakistan has also said last year's U.S. Navy Seal operation to kill
   Osama bin Laden violated its sovereignty.
   U.S. officials believe a healthy relationship with Pakistan is
   essential to the anti-Taliban effort in neighboring Afghanistan.
   Prime Minister Gilani says both he and President Obama want a stable
   and secure Afghanistan.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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