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I would like to invite Manmohan: Musharraf

B. Muralidhar Reddy

`He is welcome to watch any of India-Pakistan cricket matches'

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has said he would like to invite the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, to witness any of the forthcoming India-Pakistan cricket matches as well as to further the peace process.

In an interview to Karan Thapar for CNN-IBN television news channel, Gen. Musharraf said he could visit India in April 2005 to watch an India-Pakistan cricket match and hold bilateral talks with Dr. Singh only on account of the invitation extended by the Prime Minister.

"Let me say I would like to invite him (Manmohan) to Pakistan to watch any part of the series. He is supposed to visit us. He said so in New York (when they met in September at the U.N.) and he has not come as yet," he said.

"I do not mind inviting him at all. I want the peace process to move forward. If he comes here and we do nothing about the peace process, I am afraid we are wasting our time," he argued.

Last Monday Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Tasneem Aslam had said that Pakistan would invite Dr. Singh if he wished to watch one of the matches. "On its part Islamabad would welcome a visit by Singh... If the Prime Minister wishes to come, an invitation will be extended," she had said in response to speculation in the local media about the possible presence of Dr. Singh at one of the cricket matches.

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I would like to invite Manmohan: Musharraf

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