President Obama (file photo)
The governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan separately congratulatedU.S. President Barack Obama Friday for winning the prestigious 2009Nobel Peace Prize.

The Nobel Committee's announcement comes as Mr. Obama considers whether to send more U.S. troops to Afghanistan.

Hamed Elmi, a spokesman for Afghan President Hamid Karzai, tells VOA that his country wants to congratulate President Obama.

"We hope by this award he received, he can work hard and bring peace to our country Afghanistan," he said.

TheU.S.-led coalition and Afghan forces are facing a strong Talibaninsurgency, which threatens to derail international efforts for astable democracy in Afghanistan.

This year has been the deadliest since the U.S.-led invasion of the country eight years ago.

WhenPresident Obama took office in January, he announced his new policythat would focus on a more regional approach to the conflict inAfghanistan and a focus on protecting civilians and increasing supportfor the government.

Meanwhile, Pakistan's ruling Pakistan Peoples Party has congratulated President Obama for winning the peace prize.

Thecountry's former Information Minister, and a senior member of theruling party, Sherry Rehman tells VOA she hopes the award willencourage the U.S. president to focus on bringing peace to South Asia,especially regarding Pakistan and India's conflict over Kashmir.

"Itwould be an unprecedented effort if he is able to initiate it and bringthe Indians to the table to sort out one of Pakistan's oldest concerns,the Kashmir issue," said Rehman.

Peace talks between the twonations over Kashmir have been suspended since last year's terroristattack on India's commercial capital, Mumbai.

India blames thePakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba for the three-day siegethat killed 166 people. New Delhi maintains that it will not resumepeace talks until Islamabad brings those responsible to justice.

Inrecent months, high-level Indian and Pakistani officials have met onthe sidelines of international meetings, but have been unable torestart the peace process.