- Title: INDIA: Nuclear-armed foes Pakistan, India talk peace over.
- Date: 9th April 2012
- Summary: NEW DELHI, INDIA (APRIL 08, 2012) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC) INDIAN PRIME MINISTER, MANMOHAN SINGH, SHAKING HANDS WITH PAKISTAN PRESIDENT, ASIF ALI ZARDARI (SOUNDBITE) (English) INDIAN PRIME MINISTER, MANMOHAN SINGH, SAYING: "The relations between India and Pakistan should become normal, that's our common desire. We have a number of issues and we are willing t
- Embargoed: 24th April 2012 12:46
- Keywords:
- Location: India, India
- Country: India
- Topics: International Relations,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVABLHV57TIN25MTZBA8XL14A79B
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari invites Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Islamabad during his one day visit to the nation with both leaders pledging to improve ties.
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh stood side-by-side in New Delhi on Sunday (April 8) at the highest-level meeting on each other's soil in seven years as the nuclear-armed foes seek to normalise ties.
"Relations between India and Pakistan should become normal. That's our common desire," Singh said. "We have a number of issues and we are willing to find tactical, pragmatic solutions to all those issues and that's the message that President Zardari and I would wish to convey."
Relations have warmed since Pakistan promised its neighbour most favoured nation trade status last year, although a 10 million US dollar bounty offered by Washington for a Pakistani Islamist blamed for the 2008 attacks on Mumbai has stirred old grievances.
On his first visit to India as part of the 40-member delegation, Zardari's son, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, stood behind the leaders at the briefing, possibly a sign of his growing role in politics.
Without giving details, the two leaders said they discussed a wide range of issues during a "fruitful" meeting before sharing lunch. Singh said he hoped to make his first visit to Pakistan at a convenient date.
"We would like to have better relations with India. We have spoken on all topics that we could have spoken about and we are hoping to meet on Pakistani soil very soon," Zardari said as the two men emerged from Singh's residence.
Zardari's visit proceeded as rescue teams, backed by helicopters and sniffer dogs, searched for 124 Pakistani soldiers and 11 civilians engulfed by an avalanche on Saturday near the 6,000-metre-high (18,500-foot) Siachen glacier in Kashmir -- known as the world's highest battlefield.
India and Pakistan fought two wars over Siachen and hundreds have died there, mostly from the inhospitable conditions.
India has yet to comment on the disaster. - Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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