国际英语新闻：Obama concerned about nuclear proliferation in Pakistan: spokesman

WASHINGTON, May 4 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama, who is "gravely concerned" about the situation in Pakistan, will discuss potential nuclear proliferation and resurgent extremism in the region in coming talks with leaders of Pakistan and Afghanistan, the White House said Monday.

    Obama is due to meet at the White House separately with President Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan and President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan before hosting a tripartite talks over the tense situation resulted from growing insurgence in the region.

    The scheduled meetings, which occur as the insurgency of the Taliban and al-Qaida spreads in Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan, are an opportunity to "open up those lines of communication because we want a strong relationship with each of these two countries," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters.

    Of all concerns to be discussed in the meetings, the threat of nuclear proliferation in Pakistan and other part of the world, is "something that the president thinks is of the highest priority," Gibbs said.

    Obama said last week that the United States can make sure Pakistan's nuclear arsenal is secure. However, he warned that the situation in the country is fragile.

    The United States will help Pakistan and provide "all of the cooperation that we can," Obama said.