Zardari expected to meet Singh at UN session
Pakistan’s new President Asif Ali Zardari expects to have his first
meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the sidelines of the UN
General Assembly session in New York later this month as part of an
effort to ease recent strained relations between the two nations.
Shortly after his swearing in as the head of state, Zardari told a
news conference that he would attend the UNGA, where he would take up
Pakistan’s request to probe the assassination of his wife, former
Premier Benazir Bhutto, as a “victim of terrorism”.
| Zardari
vowed to work with all of Pakistan’s neighbours to solve
regional problems and said there would be “some good news” about
efforts to resolve the Kashmir issue |
Diplomatic sources were quoted by The News daily as saying that there
was a “definite desire on both sides (Pakistan and India) that the two
leaders” should meet on the sidelines of the UN meet.
In his first utterances after assuming office, Zardari vowed to work
with all of Pakistan’s neighbours to solve regional problems and said
there would be “some good news” about efforts to resolve the Kashmir
issue within this month.
The sources indicated that date and time for such a meeting would be
worked out through diplomatic channels. Reports have suggested that the
meeting between Singh and Zardari is expected to take place between
September 24 and 26. The head of the Pakistani delegation is scheduled
to address the world body on September 25 while the Indian team’s leader
will make his address the following day. Earlier, there were indications
that Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani would lead the Pakistani
delegation to the UNGA, but this has changed after Zardari’s elevation
to the post of President.
A possible meeting between Singh and Zardari would be the second
high-level political contact between the two countries since last
month’s meeting between the prime ministers of India and Pakistan on the
sidelines of the SAARC summit in Sri Lanka.
After Zardari’s assumption of office, both countries have indicated a
desire to work together.
In his congratulatory message to Zardari, Singh said the ushering in
of democracy in Pakistan offered new opportunities to transform
bilateral ties.
“We have the political will to work with you to seize these
opportunities and transform our relations. In your new office, you will
find a friend in India,” Singh said.
At his first news conference after assuming office, Zardari said the
Pakistan government intended to take his country “and our neighbours
into the 21st century together”.
He added: “We shall stand with each other, we shall not stand in each
other’s way. This is a message not just for Afghanistan but for all the
neighbouring countries in our region.” Zee News |
