Pak. invitation to be handed over next week

ISLAMABAD, JULY 21. A formal invitation to the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, to visit Pakistan will be handed over to him next week, official sources said, indicating that the next Vajpayee-Musharraf talks could be held by the end of the year either at Murree Hill resort or in Islamabad itself.

The Pakistan President, Gen. Pervez Musharraf's formal invitation will be presented to Mr. Vajpayee by the Pakistan High Commissioner to India, Mr. Ashraf Jehangir Qazi.

According to sources, the contents of the invitation letter have already been finalised. Gen. Musharraf on Friday said the formal invitation would be sent shortly. He first extended an oral invitation to Mr. Vajpayee at Agra during their first one-to-one meeting on July 15, which was accepted by the Prime Minister.

Pakistan officials expect Mr. Vajpayee's visit to Pakistan may take place by the end of the year and talks would be held either at the Murree Hill resort, or in the Pakistan capital.

Gen. Musharraf has also invited Mr. Vajpayee to address a press conference here, on the lines of his breakfast meeting with the Indian editors in Agra.

The Foreign Minister, Mr. Abdul Sattar, has already invited the External Affairs Minister, Mr. Jaswant Singh, to Islamabad for talks. The dates of his visit were being worked out through diplomatic channels. The two Foreign Ministers, according to sources, also held a telephone conversation a few days ago, exchanging views on bilateral relations and on Mr. Jaswant Singh's proposed visit to Pakistan.

The Pakistan Foreign Secretary, Mr. Inamul Huq and his Indian counterpart, Ms. Chokila Iyer, are likely to meet in Colombo on the sidelines of the standing committee of the SAARC nations from August 6 to 9.

- PTI

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : International
Previous : U.S. for strategic ties with India
Next     : Blacks go on rampage in Brixton