The Hindu : Front Page : Let us develop trust: Kasuri

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Nov 28, 2006
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Let us develop trust: Kasuri

Amit Baruah

Pranab to visit Pakistan on January 13 and hold "substantive talks"

PUSH TO PEACE PROCESS: Pakistan Foreign Minister Kurshid Kasuri (right) and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee address the media after an informal meeting in New Delhi on Monday. — PHOTO: AP

NEW DELHI : Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri said on Monday that India-Pakistan relations were "very important" and the two sides needed to "develop a level of trust."

He was talking to presspersons after an "informal meeting" over lunch with External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee here.

Mr. Mukherjee announced that he would visit Islamabad on January 13 to invite Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf for the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit in March.

"As you know this [Kasuri's trip] is not a formal visit. I will have the privilege of receiving him during the SAARC summit for which I am not inviting him here," Mr. Mukherjee said as Mr. Kasuri chuckled.

Letter to Musharraf

"I will go to Islamabad on January 13 and I will formally invite him ... [and] the [Pakistani] President and carry a letter from Prime Minister [Manmohan Singh] to him [Gen. Musharraf] for the SAARC summit."

Mr. Mukherjee said he would have "substantive talks" with Mr. Kasuri in Islamabad.

"This was just an informal lunch," he stressed.

Thanking Mr. Mukherjee for his hospitality, Mr. Kasuri said he looked forward to receiving him in Islamabad.

"We have agreed on the dates [for Mr. Mukherjee's visit] and I have assured him of a very warm welcome."

Mr. Kasuri said: "I told him [Mr. Mukherjee] that I had developed a level of trust with his two predecessors and I was looking forward to developing similar trust with him."

Pointing out that the management of India-Pakistan relations was a "very heavy responsibility," Mr. Kasuri said he was "happy" that a "very senior leader" of the Congress had been given charge of the External Affairs Ministry.

"That gives me great hope because whatever we have to do — it requires people — politicians who are strong and after my meeting today I have greater hope." Mr. Kasuri was here to attend a wedding.

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