"Pakistan and India can prosper together; and the entire region would
benefit from our cooperation," Nawaz says.
Singh and Sharif are expected to hold a meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on Sunday, as they reach for better relations despite heightened cross border tensions.
"I look forward to the meeting Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif even though the expectations have to be toned down," Singh told reporters in the Oval Office after he met US President Barack Obama.
Singh told Obama that India was facing difficulties due to terror and that the "epicenter of terrorist activity remains focused in Pakistan."
Deadly skirmishes across the de facto border in divided Kashmir had put the meeting in New York under a cloud, which would come months after peace talks again stalled between the two neighbors.
Nawaz Sharif upbeat for 'new beginning'
On the other hand, the Pakistani Prime Minister said he believed the two countries had a 'solid basis' for a 'new beginning' of mutual friendship.
“We stand ready to re-engage with India in a substantive and purposeful dialogue,” said Sharif, before adding:
“I am looking forward to meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here in New York to make a new beginning. We have a solid basis to do that."
COMMENTS (9)
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My Dear Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is a born Indian although carrying a Pakistani Passport.
@Rabbani: For a start, India must kick the Abdullah's out and bring back president's rule in Jammu and Kashmir. Bring back the forces and lets see what these cowards can do.
@yougurt lover: err..it's Epicenter..
Rather than toning down expectations, India will be better off by toning down their violence against innocent people in IoK.
Sunday is still quite far as far as Indo-Pak relations are concerned. Let us save our words till they meet (hopefully).
Can the Foreign Office wallahs sharpen the art of of diplomacy and international negotiations by offering a crash course of Diplomacy 101 to the honorable PM of Pakistan? One never starts from a soft hand shake but firm.
This meeting is serious waste of time ! From Indian point of view its political suicide, in current climate, for MS to meet NS, but for NS its an good PR for local consumption !