Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, who was here on his first visit to India in response to his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh's “positive gesture” of inviting the Pakistani leadership to join him in watching the World Cup cricket semi-final between the two nations here, was received at the Chandigarh airport by Minister of State for Communications Sachin Pilot and Pakistan High Commissioner Shahid Malik.
Before leaving for India, Mr. Gilani expressed happiness at the resumption of dialogue between the two nations. Both he and Dr. Singh were committed to working for peace and prosperity in the region.
“As far as our relations are concerned, I am happy that our talks have resumed. The talks between the Interior Secretaries were conducted in a positive manner. I appreciate that,'' he said.
“He [Dr. Singh] wants to work for peace and prosperity in this region. We are both committed to this and we want the environment to improve so that we can serve the people. I have never seen him being negative about this. I have always found him to be positive,'' he said.
Dr. Singh's delegation at the dinner meeting with Mr. Gilani included National Security Adviser Shiv Shankar Menon, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and Tourism Minister Subodh Kant Sahay.
The Pakistan team comprised Frontier Gandhi Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan's grandson Afsandayar Wali Khan and the former Minister, Sherry Rehman.
