President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday became the first Pakistani head of state since 2005 to visit arch-rival India when he arrived in New Delhi today and held short meeting with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
We have had “very fruitful” bilateral talks, said Zardari after 30-minute talks with the Indian Prime Minister.
Singh described the talks held between the two premiers on bilateral issues as “constructive and friendly.”
I am very “satisfied” with the outcome of talks; I have accepted President Zardari’s invitation to visit Pakistan, said PM Singh.
Zardari would now join for a lunch hosted by the Indian PM and leave for Ajmer.
Zardari landed at 12.10 pm at Palam Air Force Base (technical area) along with his son Bilawal Bhutto, Interior Minister Rehman Malik and some senior officials. He was received by minister-in-waiting P K Bansal, Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai and Pakistan High Commissioner Shahid Malik among others.
Attired in a dark coloured business suit, Zardari waved at the mediamen but did not oblige them with any comments. He straight drove to the Prime Minister’s official Race Course Road residence.
Here on a day-long “private visit”, 56-year-old Zardari will fly to Ajmer to pay obeisance at the shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti after his meeting with Singh.
Zardari has ‘fruitful’ bilateral talks with Indian PM
