The Indian government on Wednesday indicated that there would be no official talks with Prime Minister Raja Prevez Ashraf during his upcoming visit to India, as he would directly travel to Ajmer. Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said he had no knowledge of Ashraf holding talks with Indian leaders during his visit. “Not to my knowledge. He is only coming to offer prayers at Ajmer. He will reach Ajmer directly,” he told reporters, when asked whether Ashraf would hold talks with Indian leaders. “He will possibly be received by the (Rajasthan) governor (Margaret Alva). There is no further programme and I am not aware of any programme,” Khurshid said. Ashraf will visit India on Saturday to offer prayers at the Sufi shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti at Ajmer. In reply to a query on BNP leader Khaleda Zia cancelling her appointment with Indian President Pranab Mukherjee during his visit to Dhaka, Khurshid said the development was “disappointing” but the opposition’s preoccupation with the political developments in Bangladesh may have been the “reason and the cause” for the decision. “We had a very good visit…. We are continuing to build on our relationship with Bangladesh. Internal politics of any country and the dynamics of internal politics should not stand in the way of allowing our relationships to grow and fulfill,” he said.
No official talks likely during PM Ashraf’s Ajmer visit: India
