At the end of what both sides called 'fruitful' and 'constructive' talks,Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today conveyed to Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari that he would visit Pakistan at a mutually convenient date. Sources said this was the first firm commitment from the Indian side on the visit,and sets the stage for diplomats to work on the details. However,New Delhi was firm that this would depend on the progress achieved in the talks scheduled between now and July,when External Affairs Minister S M Krishna is slated to visit Pakistan. That terror features high on Indias agenda was clear during todays meeting between Singh and Zardari,when the PM raised it upfront and asked about action against Lashkar-e-Toiba founder Hafiz Mohammed Saeed,who is based in Pakistan. Zardari reportedly highlighted the legal issues involved in this,but agreed that home secretaries of the two countries should discuss how to take this forward. Apart from forward-looking commitments on curbing terror,New Delhi is also hoping that coming talks with Islamabad will see concrete progress on the Sir Creek issue. The two countries are also set to formalise a visa agreement that is expected to be particularly favourable to businessmen. Singh described his 40-minute,one-on-one meeting with Zardari as very constructive and friendly. The relations between India and Pakistan should become normal. Thats our common desire. We have a number of issues and we are willing to find practical,pragmatic solutions to all those issues. And thats the message President Zardari and I wish to convey, he said. Zardari called the talks very fruitful. India and Pakistan are neighbours. We would like to have better relations with India. We spoke on all topics that we could have spoken about and we are hoping to meet on Pakistan soil very soon, the President said. The lunch that followed the one-on-one meeting was attended by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari,Rahul Gandhi,Home Minister P Chidambaram,External Affairs Minister S M Krishna,Defence Minister A K Antony,Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal,senior BJP leader L K Advani and BJPs Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj among others. Congress president Sonia Gandhi pulled out due to ill-health and sources said she had informed the PMO in advance. Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee was also absent since he had engagements in Karnataka. Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai,who was present at the lunch,confirmed that terror had been discussed. (this) is a major issue by which the Indian people will judge progress in the bilateral relationship. The Prime Minister told President Zardari that it was imperative to bring the perpetrators of Mumbai attack to justice and to prevent activities aimed against India from Pakistans soil. Sources said the Prime Minister was clear on the matter,and said that for a normal relationship,there has to be action from Pakistans side,especially regarding the Mumbai attackers. Zardari is learnt to have said that Pakistan was as much a victim of terrorism,if not more and there was a need to cooperate to tackle this. While the Pakistani President mentioned the need to discuss all issues,including Sir Creek,Siachen and Kashmir,Mathai said that both felt that we need to move forward step by step. Singh appreciated that Pakistan had moved forward on trade-related issues and both leaders felt that the two countries should tap into the considerable potential of bilateral economic and trade ties. In this regard,during lunch,the two sides discussed the kind of progress made by India and China despite difficulties on the border issue. The need for regional cooperation for economic development was also discussed. It was evident from the conversation that both countries consider the dialogue process and improvement in bilateral relations as being in the mutual interest of people of India and Pakistan, the Foreign Secretary said. Singh raised the avalanche tragedy involving Pakistani troops in the Siachen sector near the border with India,with a large number of men buried under snow. He said India was willing to provide humanitarian assistance if needed.
