ISLAMABAD – With Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and his entourage, which may include important political leaders, all set to land in Mohali on Wednesday morning to watch the India-Pakistan Cricket World Cup semi-final clash, the Foreign Office and other official quarters on Monday finalised Pakistan’s agenda for the two prime ministers’ meeting with the Kashmir dispute and terrorism at the top of the list of issues to be discussed.
Nonetheless, President Asif Ali Zardari and the premier will have a final look at the agenda prepared by the Foreign Office today (Tuesday) so any changes they want to make can be included in the final draft. Gilani’s plane will reach Chandigarh at around 11am on Wednesday and he will go straight from the airport to meet his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh to discuss with him all bilateral issues before the match. Officials at the Foreign Office said that there were no plans for a structured agenda for talks but it had been decided that the premier would talk on all issues with his Indian counterpart with Kashmir and terrorism at the top.
“Basically this meeting between the two leaders is aimed at giving the much-needed impetus to the recently resumed peace process and to ensure that momentum is maintained in the two countries’ dialogue on various issues in the months to come,” said a senior official here on Monday requesting anonymity. The meeting, he said, was more to add to the atmospherics than for any substantive outcome and importantly, the two leaders wanted to give a clear signal that the peace process was on track and both sides were serious in carrying it forward to resolve their disputes.
Another official here said the prime minister was supposed to take along politicians from various parties, also including those from the opposition, but any final decision in that regard would be made today (Tuesday) after the final word from New Delhi about the arrangements being made for the Pakistani guests. He said the prime minister would also hold consultations with various political leaders on his visit to India and meeting with the Indian premier today. As Gilani holds talks with Singh, he would also have a personal and very important issue on his mind: the ailment of his son Haider Gilani, who is currently receiving medical treatment in London for liver disease.
Agenda for Gilani’s visit to India finalised
