Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced that he is ready for a visit to Pakistan and hopes that the visit would bring good results, Express News reported on Thursday evening.
It was not immediately clear whether the decision was taken in answer to the invitations extended by President Asif Ali Zardari and former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani earlier this year.
Singh’s visit would signal a visible thaw in Pak-India relations which deteriorated after the November 2008 Mumbai attacks and prove to be a fruit of the behind-the-scenes diplomatic engagement between Pakistan and India since the attack.
Fittingly, the announcement also comes on a day when another secretary-level talks between Pakistan and India concluded in New Delhi where key topics such as terrorism and Kashmir were discussed in detail and both the countries agreed to greater people-to-people contact and friendly engagements.
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Zia-ul-Haq’s and Musharraf’s regimes were better only becuase of USA pumping money into Pakistan. The first during the Soviet invasion of Afghan and the second, soon after the 9/11 attack.
@Someone who writes "Diplomacy is based on politics, not emotions. Forget Mumbai,"
Good suggestion sir. You should forget Kashmir and we will forget Mumbai.
"let’s bring the Indian terrorists who did Samjhauta bombings in 2007 to justice first."
That is funny. Yes, we will break the jail where he is jailed, bring him to street and hang him. Like Sialkot, maybe? Or we will burn him like Chalighot in Bhawalpur.
You know how funny it sounds to the entire world, when Pakistanis talk about honesty, justice, truthfulness?
Manmohan Singh's Pakistan's visit is always most welcome for result-oriented talks only but keep it in your minds Indians with all due respect provided that Manmohan Singh is honest and sincere to resolve Kashmir issue firstly and foremost on priority basis then the other issues are easily soluble.
Zia-ul-Haq's and Musharraf's regimes were much the best from all aspects than present PPP's regime.
PM Singh has no business at present to visit Pakistan, until the 26/11 mess has been sorted and some positive cooperation is received from Pakistan ! If he decides to visit, it could also be political minefield as the right wingers will have field day and public opinion is certainly not in favour of such visit !
Manmohan Singh is not doing a service by doing a state visit, he knows how diplomacy works. Indians should tone down their rhetoric. Diplomacy is based on politics, not emotions. Forget Mumbai, let's bring the Indian terrorists who did Samjhauta bombings in 2007 to justice first. Hang the Hindu extremist militant Prasad Shrikant Purohit to set an example.
Until India brings the perpetrators of Samjhauta express bombings, in which Indian terrorists killed innocent civilians, to justice, we do not want any association with India.
It's a good move.
However, we all know how Pakistan backstabbed with Kargil after Agra.
So Manmohan Singh, go to Pakistan with a message of peace. Do your business. BUT While coming back to India, keep looking back.
@A.S.: Love Manmohan Singh! We hope he visits Pakistan and STAYS there. We need brilliant PHD economists. Bring Professor Amartya Sen, Dr. Abdul Kalam and all the intellectuals of India also please!
Great, that'll give us more targets for minority hunting.
Mr Man Mohan Singh will surely visit Pakistan even if there is no major achievement in Indo-Pak relations. His visit will be to his birth place and Nankana Sahib more than to the corridors of Pakistani power.
I am so happy to see the general voices from Pakistan. But I wonder if the non state and state actor will let this happen because it is the question of their bread and butter. Billions of Rs are being earned in spreading war of hate.
Excellent...India and Pakistan needs to take a lead to bring peace in South Asian Region.
Region is suffering from scores of social and economic issues ...a wide range of security matters....
Best wishes for good relations.
Until Pakistan brings the perpetrators of Mumbai attack to justice, our PM should not visit Pakistan. It will be a futile exercise. Pakistan also has to destroy the terrorist infrastructure operating freely on its territory and stop using terrorism as its state policy. Terrorism has to stop. Period
Love Manmohan Singh! We hope he visits Pakistan and STAYS there. We need brilliant PHD economists. Bring Professor Amartya Sen, Dr. Abdul Kalam and all the intellectuals of India also please!
@Asad:
Manmohan Singh, a limping lame-duck premier with no electorate basis, knows that he is not going to ever be the prime minister again. So why not visit Pakistan, despite the carnage committed by -- fully proven -- Pakistani terrorists who gunned down unarmed men, women and children. MMS`s visit to Pakistan would be a disservice to the memories of those who lost their lives to extremists who surreptitiously came to India from Pakistan and committed the cold-blooded murders. The people of Mumbai can NEVER forget November 26. Ask those who lost their sons, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, etc. The people of India and, particularly, Mumbai would never forgive him for shaking hands with those who encourage such barbarious acts.
my countrymen ,its not always India to blame in everything , we must uproot corruption from Pakistan its our duty ,
A next door neighbour is knocking the door.
We want to see his mood.
Let us hope that common sense and goodwill prevails over the deep state, extremism and fanaticism. It would be a win-win situation for both the neighbors and south Asia. Peace, democracy, secularism, mutual respect and co-existence is the only way forward. Let us have a trade and technology race instead of arms race between the two countries for a change. Let us wage a jihad against poverty, ignorance, diseases, and backwardness in the region.
Excellent news! Wish best of relations between India & Pakistan.
Tensions over Abu Jandal have disappeared now that the NATO supply line has been opened pressure from India will evaporate.
Seriously ET, who writes up these reports? He said something diametrically opposite. Something along the lines of "I will visit Pakistan, but there should be something big to show for it".
No, he said that if he has some good results to show for it, i will definitely visit Pakistan. That means if there is a breakthrough in siachen or sir creek issue, then only he will visit.This is as per Hindustan times.