Pak NSA arrives in India with an agenda of promoting friendship

New Delhi, Oct.11 : Pakistan National Security Advisor Mahmud Ali Durrani arrived here on Saturday on a five-day visit to India with an agenda focused on promoting friendship between the two countries.

Durrani shares a very good rapport with top Indian officials, and according to official sources, will be meeting with his Indian counterpart M K Narayanan and others.

Both are expected to discuss the recent ceasefire violations, the rise in cross border infiltrations and the Indian Embassy bombing in Kabul.

Talking to reporters at Indira Gandhi International Airport this evening, Durrani said that his aim in coming to New Delhi was to strengthen the bonds of friendship between India and Pakistan.

"It's a pleasure being in Delhi. I am coming after a number of years. And I look forward to my meetings in Delhi and meeting some old friends while I am here. I have an open agenda, friendship is my agenda," said Durrani.

Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President Asif Aliardari had discussed Durrani's visit to India in New York last month.

The foreign secretaries of the two countries are also to meet in Islamabad for the fifth round of the composite dialogue.

Durrani is likely to call on Prime Minister Singh, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and the president of the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) Rajnath Singh.

ANI