After 'fruitful talks' Manmohan accepts Zardari's offer to visit Pakistan

New Delhi, Apr 8 (ANI): The talks between Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and visiting Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari here today was constructive and held in an atmosphere of peace and tranquility with both sides expressing satisfaction.

Thanking Dr. Singh for hosting him on his private visit, Zardari said India and Pakistan are neighbours and would like to have better relations. He also invited the Indian Prime Minister to visit Pakistan.

"I would like to wish the people of India salaam alaikum. I am grateful to Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister of India, for inviting me for lunch although I am on a private visit here. We have had some very fruitful bilateral talks together," said Zardari.

"India and Pakistan are neighbours, we would like to have better relations with India. We have spoken on all topics that we wanted to and we are hoping to meet on Pakistan soil very soon," he added.

The Indian Prime Minister on his part expressed satisfaction with the talks, and said both nations are willing to find practical, pragmatic solutions to all issues.

"President Zardari and I have had a very constructive and friendly exchange of views on all bilateral issues, which affects the relationship between India and Pakistan. President Zardari is on a private visit and I have taken advantage of this visit to discuss with him all bilateral issues and I am very satisfied with the outcome of this visit," said Dr. Singh.

"And President Zardari has also invited me to visit Pakistan. I would be very happy to visit Pakistan on a mutually convenient date. The relations between India and Pakistan should become normal, that's our common desire, we have a number of issues and we are willing to find practical pragmatic solutions to all those issues. And that's the message President Zardari and I would wish to convey," he added.

Zardari, who landed here at 12.10 pm at Palam Air Force Base (technical area) along with his son Bilawal Bhutto, Interior Minister Rehman Malik and some senior officials, will be flying off to Ajmer later in the day to pay obeisance at the shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti.

India and Pakistan, which have fought three wars since their independence from British rule in 1947, have been slowly trying to repair relations and agreed to resume formal peace talks broken off in the wake of the Mumbai attack in 2008. (ANI)