India, Pak willing to find pragmatic solutions to number of issues: PM
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
New Delhi, April 8, IRNA -- Signalling a positive outcome, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday said the two countries are willing to find 'practical, pragmatic' solutions to a 'number of issues' affecting the bilateral relationship.
Emerging after a 30-minute one-on-one meeting, both Singh and Zardari gave press statements where they expressed 'satisfaction' over their deliberations.
'I and President Zardari had constructive and friendly exchanges of views on bilateral issues which affects relationship between India and Pakistan,' Singh said.
'I have taken advantage of this visit to discuss with him all bilateral issues and I am very satisfied with the outcome of this visit,' the Prime Minister said while admitting that there were number of issues between the two countries.
'We have a number of issues and we are willing to find practical and pragmatic solutions to all those issues and that is the message President Zardari and I would wish to convey,' Singh said, pti reported. We have had 'very fruitful' bilateral talks, said Zardari, who also hoped to meet the Indian leader on Pakistani soil very soon.
The Pakistan President invited Singh to visit his country.
'I would be very happy to visit Pakistan on a mutually convenient date,' Singh said.
The Pakistan President was warmly received by Singh after reaching the Prime Minister's residence and both the leaders posed for shutterbugs.
The Pakistan President, who is on a day-long visit to India, said the two countries are neighbours so 'we would like to have better relations with India. We have spoken on all topics that we could have spoken about and we are hoping to meet on Pakistani soil very soon.'
There was no structured agenda for the meeting between Singh and Zardari.
The two leaders, however, did not mention the specific issues discussed during their meeting.
After having lunch with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here, Zardari will head to offer prayers at the revered shrine of Sufi Saint Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Hasan Chisti (R.A.), situated at Ajmer in India’s western state of Rajasthan.
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: 80067131
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