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Saturday, March 26, 2011
Singh invites Zardari, Gilani for semi-final
LAHORE: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday invited President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani to join him at a World Cup semi-final between Indian and Pakistani teams in Mohali on March 30. According to the Foreign Office, the invitation from the Indian premier to the president and prime minister was received on Friday evening. In this respect, talking to a private TV channel, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India, Shahid Malik, said that it was being expected that Prime Minister Gilani might accept his Indian counterpart’s invitation. He said the cricketing “encounter” should enhance bilateral talks scheduled for after the event. He also said that Pakistan had always preferred constructive dialogue to resolve the existing issues between the two states, adding that now India had also realised the importance of talks. Wednesday’s match will be the first Pakistan has played in India since terror attacks in Mumbai in November 2008 sent relations between the nuclear-armed neighbours to a new low. As the countries suspended political talks, with the attacks blamed on Pakistan-based terrorists, sports relations were also put on hold. But next week’s match between the cricket-crazed countries presents a unique chance for diplomacy at the highest level. Prime Minister Singh sent identical letters to both President Zardari and Prime Minister Gilani inviting them to join him in watching the match in Mohali in the border state of Indian Punjab. daily times monitor/agencies
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk