Pranab to discuss all issues with Pak leaders

New Delhi, Jan 5: External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said he would discuss 'all issues' with Pakistani leaders during his visit to Islamabad on January 13-14.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines after releasing the 'South Asia Defence and Strategic Yearbook 2007' here this evening, the External Affairs Minister hoped that his visit to Pakistan would be fruitful.

He, however, did not disclose what issues would he discuss with the Pakistani leaders.

''Wait till I return,'' he said.

However, the Pakistan Foreign Ministry said Kashmir issue and the peace process would come up during discussions between Mr Mukherjee and the Pakistani leaders.

Mr Mukherjee who is visiting Pakistan to formally invite President Pervez Musharraf to attend the SAARC Summit to be held in India on April 3-4, will also be meeting his counterpart Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri besides the President Musharraf. He will also invite his counterpart for the Ministerial Conference preceeding the summit.

On the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) today prior to his trip to Islamabad, he said this was a ''routine'' affair.

''Apart from my trip to Pakistan, we also discussed the situation in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Maldives,'' Mr Mukherjee said.

Mr Mukherjee declined to answer a question regarding on the functioning of the Joint Anti-Terrorism Mechanism Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Musharraf had agreed upon during their recent meeting in Havana during the Non-Aligned Summit.

''Wait till I come back,'' he reiterated.

UNI