SAARC Summit from April 28-29.
THIMPHU, BHUTAN:Eight nations SAARC meeting of heads of government,Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are attending the Summit.The Summit will adopt a declaration - "Towards a Green and Happy South Asia", focusing on the problems relating to environment and climate change.First official possible meeting between the prime ministers of India and Pakistan here, Indian External Affairs Minister S M Krishna on Monday said the bilateral meeting cannot be ruled out."I am not ruling it out," Krishna said when asked if Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will meet his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani during his visit here for the SAARC summit to be held on April 28 to 29.Observing that heads of states and governments are going to be under the same roof for the next couple of days for the multilateral meeting, the minister said there will be a number of bilateral meetings during the period."Let's wait and watch, how things are going to work out," he said, adding "all bilateral issues between India and Pakistan will be discussed as and when the Prime Ministers meet".Asked about Pakistan's request seeking the testimony of the magistrates who recorded the confessional statement of Mumbai attack accused Ajmal Kasab, Krishna said he was yet to examine the matter.
Krishna said he has received the dossier containing the request late last night but he was yet to go through the same.Maintaining that Kasab's trial was in advanced stage in India, he said it was going on in full steam."We have to complete our legal formalities first and then we can examine Pakistan's request for the same," he said, adding, the matter will be examined in consultation with other ministries and departments.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Afghan President Hamid Karzai met in New Delhi on Monday to discuss a relationship seen as key to regional stability.The foreign ministry in New Delhi said on Saturday that Singh hoped the meeting would strengthen the nations' "strategic partnership". The talks would be an "opportunity for India to express its firm commitment and support to the government and people of Afghanistan," it added.Karzai's office said the agenda would focus on "the war on terror and other bilateral issues".PM Manmohan Singh and Afghan President Hamid Karzai as the two leaders met ahead of the SAARC summit.“India remains committed to assist the people of Afghanistan. We discussed the issue of terrorism which threatens our region,” Singh said after talks with Karzai in New Delhi on Monday.
Karzai, who is in New Delhi on a two-day visit before going to Bhutan to attend the SAARC summit beginning 28th April, said he and Singh discussed the situation in Afghanistan and “our common struggle against terrorism and extremism.”
“We discussed the upcoming Afghanistan Peace Consultations which should comprise people of Afghanistan, those from all walks of life to advise on how to move forward for reintegration and reconciliation of those elements of Taliban and others who have accepted the Constitution or not part of the Al Qaeda or any terrorist network,” Karzai said.Speaking about the attack on Indians in Afghanistan, he said, “I expressed my sympathy and condolences of Afghan people at the cowardly attacks on the Indian construction workers, the medical staff and the (Indian) embassy in Kabul.”
He also conveyed his gratitude to India for helping in the reconstruction of Afghanistan.Singh said, “I had an extremely productive discussion with Mr. Karzai and discussed a whole range of bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest. I look forward to working with Mr. Karzai”.
Krishna said he has received the dossier containing the request late last night but he was yet to go through the same.Maintaining that Kasab's trial was in advanced stage in India, he said it was going on in full steam."We have to complete our legal formalities first and then we can examine Pakistan's request for the same," he said, adding, the matter will be examined in consultation with other ministries and departments.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Afghan President Hamid Karzai met in New Delhi on Monday to discuss a relationship seen as key to regional stability.The foreign ministry in New Delhi said on Saturday that Singh hoped the meeting would strengthen the nations' "strategic partnership". The talks would be an "opportunity for India to express its firm commitment and support to the government and people of Afghanistan," it added.Karzai's office said the agenda would focus on "the war on terror and other bilateral issues".PM Manmohan Singh and Afghan President Hamid Karzai as the two leaders met ahead of the SAARC summit.“India remains committed to assist the people of Afghanistan. We discussed the issue of terrorism which threatens our region,” Singh said after talks with Karzai in New Delhi on Monday.
Karzai, who is in New Delhi on a two-day visit before going to Bhutan to attend the SAARC summit beginning 28th April, said he and Singh discussed the situation in Afghanistan and “our common struggle against terrorism and extremism.”
“We discussed the upcoming Afghanistan Peace Consultations which should comprise people of Afghanistan, those from all walks of life to advise on how to move forward for reintegration and reconciliation of those elements of Taliban and others who have accepted the Constitution or not part of the Al Qaeda or any terrorist network,” Karzai said.Speaking about the attack on Indians in Afghanistan, he said, “I expressed my sympathy and condolences of Afghan people at the cowardly attacks on the Indian construction workers, the medical staff and the (Indian) embassy in Kabul.”
He also conveyed his gratitude to India for helping in the reconstruction of Afghanistan.Singh said, “I had an extremely productive discussion with Mr. Karzai and discussed a whole range of bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest. I look forward to working with Mr. Karzai”.
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