Singh-Zardari meet, no structured agenda, focus on bilateral ties
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
New Delhi, April 8, IRNA -- Focus will be on bilateral issues when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has a one-on-one meeting with Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, who is making a three-hour stopover here tomorrow.
No aides will be present from either side at the meeting to be held at Singh's official Race Course Road residence followed by lunch to be attended by select guests on both sides.
During his day-long trip to India, Zardari will be accompanied by his 23-year-old son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who took over the reigns of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) after the death of his mother Benazir Bhutto in 2007, Interior Minister Rahman Malik, Foreign Secretary, senior officers of Presidency and media.
'Though there is no structured agenda but the leaders are expected to focus on bilateral issues,' pti reported quoting officials sources as said. Ahead of the visit both sides had made it clear that the two leaders will talk about issues of mutual concern.
'..all bilateral issues are likely to be discussed...,' External Affairs Minister S M Krishna has said.
With a renewed pressure on Pakistan to take action against Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind of 26/11, after the US announcement of a USD 10 million bounty on the JuD chief, the issue is likely to figure during the meeting between the two sides.
Ahead of the visit, the two countries have sparred over Saeed with Islamabad maintaining that they have not received any 'concrete' proof against the JuD chief and New Delhi asserting that no amount of denial by them can exonerate him.
'The dossier that the Home Minister has provided to the Pakistan government contains every detail of Saeed's involvement in the planning and execution of terrorist attack on Mumbai.....
'So no amount of denial would exonerate them unless there is a judicial enquiry into the whole episode whereby responsibilities can be fixed but unfortunately Pakistan government has not thought it proper to investigate this,' Krishna has said.
Krishna was asked about Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's remarks that the matter of Saeed is an 'internal issue' and if there is any concrete proof against the outlawed JuD chief then it should be provided to Pakistan.
His remarks were immediately contested by Pakistan, which said India had not given 'any solid and significant evidence' against Saeed.
'There is nothing concrete and maintainable. From its own Mumbai trial experience, India knows well that hearsay cannot substitute for hard evidence,' Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit told PTI in Islamabad.
Meanwhile, Ahead of the luncheon meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, the Home Ministry Saturday handed over to the PMO a dossier about the perpetrators of 26/11 Mumbai terror attack that include LeT founder Hafiz Saeed.
The complete dossier containing evidence linking Pakistan-based terrorists to the Mumbai attacks was handed over by the Home Ministry to the Prime Minister's Office to help it raise the issue with the Pakistani delegation.
The documents furnished information about the SIM cards used by the attackers and the GPS coordinates they relied on besides DNA reports of the 10 Pakistani terrorists involved in the attack.
The certified statement of Kasab made before a Mumbai court and the case diary of the 26/11 investigators, telephone conversations of the 10 attackers and their Pakistan-based handlers intercepted during the 60-hour carnage, fingerprints, and other details of the terrorists who struck in Mumbai.
The dossier also included forensic analysis of GPS, ammunition and other equipment used by the terrorists.
Meanwhile, Around 2,000 security personnel, including sharpshooters from the elite National Security Guards, will keep a tight vigil on the national capital during Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari's visit on Sunday.
Zardari will land in Delhi Sunday morning and head to Prime Minister Manohan Singh's official residence where the two leaders will have a one-on-one meeting followed by lunch. From there, he will leave for Ajmer.
A senior police official said elaborate security arrangements have been made and security personnel have been deployed on the route from the airport to the Prime Minister's residence.
Sharpshooters will be deployed on the high-rises on the route, he said.
Zardari will return to Pakistan the same day.
Last Pakistani President, Pervez Musharraf visited India in 2005.
India’s Prime Minister and Zardari last met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Russia in 2009.
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Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 80066065
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