News
Saturday, August 02, 2008
Pakistan wants good ties with neighbours: PM
* Gilani hopes for constructive talks with Manmohan Singh
COLOMBO: Pakistan wants good relations with all neighbour countries and the 15th South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC) summit will help remove misunderstandings among member states, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Friday. “We certainly want SAARC to be an effective organisation,” Gilani told reporters at the Chaklala Airbase before leaving for Colombo. Gilani-Manmohan meeting: The prime minister said he would meet his Indian counterpart, Dr Manmohan Singh, on the sidelines of the summit. He said he hoped to have a positive and constructive dialogue with Singh to move forward the ongoing peace process with India. Gilani and Singh are scheduled to meet on Saturday. Gilani was accorded a warm welcome when he arrived in Colombo. He met Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and discussed with him matters relating to bilateral ties as well as regional co-operation. Separately, the prime minister told Pakistani reporters that Pakistan and Sri Lanka would expand bilateral relations. He said he would ask the National Assembly speaker to form a committee for the promotion of relations between the two countries. agencies
Courtesy DailyTimes