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New Delhi: India and
Pakistan moved a step closer to their "common desire" of
normalising relations after a businesslike lunch and talks between
visiting Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh here Sunday. The two leaders discussed the entire
gamut of bilateral issues before Manmohan Singh announced he would
be "very happy" to visit Pakistan.
Zardari, who arrived in India on a six-hour private visit cloaked
as a pilgrimage to the Sufi shrine at Ajmer in Rajasthan, held a
40 minute-long private talks with Manmohan Singh at his 7, Race
Course Road residence, followed by a lunch where others in his
40-strong delegation, that included his son Bilawal, joined in.
After a warm handshake and clasp and smiles for the media, the two
leaders sat down for talks, which Manmohan Singh said were "very
constructive".
He stressed that their common desire was to normalise relations,
which took a nosedive after the 26/11 attacks and has seen
improvement after two recent meetings between Manmohan Singh and
his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani. The first was on the
sidelines of the SAARC summit in the Maldives in November last
year, and at the Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul last month.
"The relation between India and Pakistan should become normal,
that's our common desire," Manmohan Singh said at a joint media
appearance just before they headed for lunch.
"President Zardari is on a private visit and I have taken
advantage this visit to discuss all the bilateral issues.
President Zardari and I have had a very constructive and friendly
exchange of views on all bilateral issues," Manmohan Singh said.
He stressed that the two sides were "willing to find practical,
pragmatic solutions" to all issues dogging their ties "and that's
the message that President Zardari and I would wish to convey."
In a breakthrough of sorts, Manmohan Singh also accepted Zardari's
invitation to visit Pakistan at a mutually convenient time. If the
visit takes place, it will be the first by an Indian prime
minister to Pakistan in the last eight years.
"President Zardari has also invited me to visit Pakistan … I would
be very happy to visit Pakistan on a mutually convenient date,"
said Manmohan Singh, who was born in the village in Gah in
Pakistani Punjab.
Zardari, too, struck an upbeat note.
He greeted the Indian people with a "Salaam Walaykum" and said he
had held "very fruitful talks" with Manmohan Singh. He stressed
that India and Pakistan are neighbours and "we will like to have
better relations with India".
"We have spoken about every issue we could have spoken about,"
Zardari, who was dressed nattily in a black suit with a red tie,
said. Manmohan Singh was dressed in his usual kurta-churidar and a
grey Nehru jacket.
Zardari said he hoped to see Manmohan Singh on Pakistan soil soon.
His son Bilawal, dressed in a black pathani suit, was standing
behind him as Zardari addressed the media.
Manmohan Singh was invited to visit Pakistan by Gilani on the
sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul March 27, and
had replied that he would visit only if something "solid" was
achievable.
In his maiden visit to India, Zardari touched down here Sunday
noon in his special aircraft. After the talks he headed for Jaipur
to offer prayers at the revered sufi shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin
Chisti in Ajmer.
Zardari is accompanied by around 40-member delegation that
includes his son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Interior Minister Rehman
Malik, Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani, presidential
spokesperson Farhatullah Babar and close members of the family.
This is the first presidential visit from Pakistan in the last
seven years. Pervez Musharraf was the last president to visit
India in April 2005 for the failed Agra summit.
Zardari last met Manmohan on the sidelines of the Shanghai
Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in the Russian city of
Yekaterinburg in 2009.
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