Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has started a state visit to the United States with a call on President Barack Obama to pressure India's historic rival, Pakistan.

Singh is expected to cover a range of issues during his three-day visit to Washington, which begins on November 23.

Singh has said that Islamabad has not done enough to deal with the militants responsible for last year's attacks on Mumbai.

“We have been the victims of Pakistan-aided, abetted and inspired terrorism for nearly 25 years. We would like the United States to use all its influence with Pakistan to desist from that path,” Singh said in an interview ahead of the meeting.

The Indian premier expressed doubt that Pakistan and the US have the same objectives in Afghanistan.

“I don't see Pakistan wholeheartedly in support of action against the Taliban in Afghanistan. They, of course, are taking action against the Taliban, but only when it threatens the supremacy of the army.”

New Delhi has also expressed concern that President Obama has been encouraging China to take a more active role in South Asia. India is a rival of both China and Pakistan.

The developments come as tension over a border dispute between New Delhi and Beijing has escalated in recent weeks.

China and India fought a brief but bloody war over a border dispute in 1962 with a decisive victory for the Chinese.

India and Pakistan have fought three wars since they attained independence from Britain in 1947.

JR/HGL