ISLAMABAD – In an unusual diplomatic initiative, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Sunday telephoned India’s Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar to exchange New Year’s greetings.
“The prime minister conveyed his good wishes to her,” an official said. “Meira Kumar had sent a message of greetings to the prime minister on New Year’s eve. Matters of mutual interest were also discussed during the telephonic conversation,” the official said.
Another senior official said: “The prime minister also discussed the stalled Indo-Pak peace dialogue with Kumar.” The official, however, said the call made by the prime minister to the Indian speaker should have been made by her Pakistani counterpart, as it was something against routine diplomatic norms and procedures.
The call is being seen as Pakistan’s zealousness to move forward and bring the relations with India to normal using all channels.
