Gilani, Singh to thrash out plan to boost ties

The South Asian regional summit is also being held in the shadow of a series of bomb blasts in India, and one at India’s embassy in Kabul this month, which India blamed on Pakistan’s spy agency. The attacks killed more than 100 people.

Mukherjee was more guarded in his comments, telling reporters separately that the ministers had shared “perceptions about bilateral relations, the composite dialogue (peace talks) and certain recent events.”

He declined to elaborate about his meeting with Qureshi, which lasted about an hour, sources close to the talks told AFP.

Escalating tensions between India and Pakistan had threatened to cast a shadow over the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation summit aimed at improving regional economic growth and cooperation, which begins Saturday (tomorrow).

According to Doordarshan, Pranab took up the issue of recent ceasefire violations along the Line of Control during talks with Qureshi.

“We shared our perception about our bilateral relations, the composite dialogue and certain recent events,” Mukherjee told reporters after the meeting with Qureshi by his side.

He said the two nations’ prime ministers would meet on Saturday on the sidelines of the summit.

Qureshi recalled that he had a very pleasant meeting with his Indian counterpart when he had visited Delhi.

“It was a very positive engagement,” he said.

On his talks with Mukherjee, he said “the discussion today was frank, candid and open discussion. We discussed a host of issues of mutual concern.”