Ahead of his India visit, US President Barack Obama spoke to his Pakistani counterpart Asif Ali Zardari and discussed steps to address the “direct threat” posed by terrorist groups based in Pakistan.

Obama made the telephone call to Zardari Tuesday, during which the two leaders agreed that more needs to be done to address the threat posed by terrorists in Pakistan.

The US President, who also discussed with Zardari the results of the third round of the US-Pak Strategic Dialogue in Washington recently, telephoned his Pakistani counterpart days ahead of his maiden India visit.

“Both President Obama and President Zardari acknowledged that more work needs to be done to address the direct threat to our countries posed by terrorist groups in Pakistan,” the White House said in a statement.

“They also agreed that the US and Pakistan have worked hard to build an atmosphere of trust and cooperation, and are committed to ongoing efforts to build a stronger, strategic and more collaborative US-Pakistan relationship,” the statement said.

Obama emphasised the US commitment and support for democracy and transparency in Pakistan, highlighting that the two countries share an interest in ensuring that democratic traditions in Pakistan are strengthened, the White House said.

“He also acknowledged Pakistan’s economic difficulties, and encouraged President Zardari to work to pass key economic reforms, such as tax reform and containing energy subsidies,” the statement said.

Obama concluded the call by conveying his intention to visit Pakistan in 2011 and personally welcomed Zardari to visit the US in the coming year.

The White House said the call was made by Obama to consult Zardari on the progress made during the recent US-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue and to reinforce America’s commitment to partner Pakistan on economic, development and governance priorities.