ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Syed Yusaf Raza Gilani called on President Asif Ali Zardari at Aiwan-e-Sadr here on Thursday and briefed the President about his visit to India and his discussion with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi and also about the talks in India between the Interior Secretaries of the two countries.
According to a press release issued here on Thursday, the President welcomed the meeting of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani with the Indian leadership as a positive development for the region and expressed the hope that it would provide further impetus to the efforts for meaningful dialogue between the two countries on all outstanding issues.
The President said that dialogue between the two countries was the only forward to address the issues and to concentrate on the welfare of their respective peoples by addressing the problems of hunger, disease and poor infrastructure.
The President also appreciated Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for extending invitation to the Pakistani leadership to visit India. Regular interactions at all levels, he noted, would not only provide a solid platform to resolve our mutual issues but would also help to obviate and reduce misperceptions and mistrusts.
The Prime Minister informed the President that he had also extended invitation to both Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi to visit Pakistan. Appreciating the invitation extended to Indian leaders to visit Pakistan the President hoped that mutual visits and the resumption of talks will serve as important confidence building measures.
The President cheered both the teams for providing opportunity to witness a good game. Winning or losing the match is not really important in any game, the President continued, what was important and appreciable was the sportsman spirit and effort of our boys in the field and the fact that the event provided an opportunity for the leadership to meet and also entertainment to the people of the two countries.
Later the President hosted lunch for the Prime Minister. Senator A. Rehman Malik, Federal Minister for Interior, was also present during the lunch.
Both the President and the Prime Minister expressed satisfaction over the meetings and resumption of talks.
