Obama calls PM, finally

US President-elect Barack Obama today finally called up Manmohan Singh and said he wants to work together with India on all important global issues.

Barack Obama, president-elect of the United States, called Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday morning.

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“Obama told Singh that the US-India strategic relationship was very important... and that the new administration wanted to work together with India on all important global issues,” a PMO statement said.

Earlier, there had been speculation that Obama had ignored India when he called 15 world leaders, including Pakistan’s Asif Ali Zardari soon after his victory.

“The PM congratulated Obama and said his historic victory was a source of inspiration for oppressed people all over the world. Obama praised Singh’s contribution to the progress of India…,” it added.

Singh told Obama that the good relations between the two countries had to move beyond that. “The PM conveyed his best wishes for the success of the new administration in meeting the enormous challenges that face the world and invited the President-elect and his wife to visit India,” said the statement.