EAM arrives in Pak, carrying invitation for Aziz

Islamabad, Jan 13 (UNI) External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee arrived here today on a two-day visit for talks with Pakistani leaders on various contentious issues and carrying an invitation for Prime Minister Shoukat Aziz to attend the 14th SAARC Summit in New Delhi.

The arrival was marred by a minor scuffle between Pakistani securitymen and local journalists who threatened to boycott Mr Mukherjee's visit.

After his arrival at the Chaklala Airbase near here, the External Affairs Minister told reporters that he had brought an invitation for Mr Aziz to attend the SAARC Summit being held in New Delhi on April 3-4.

Earlier, it was thought that he would be inviting President Musharraf for the talks.

Mr Mukherjee said he wanted the South Asia Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) to be operationalised which would boost trade and benefit the entire region.

He said he would also invite his counterpart Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri to India to attend the SAARC Foreign Ministers' meeting ahead of the Summit.

The External Affairs Minister disclosed that Afghanistan would be formally admitted to SAARC at the New Delhi Session.

MORE UNI