Shoukat Aziz to attend SAARC Summit

Islamabad, Jan 13 (UNI) Pakistan Prime Minister Shoukat Aziz will most likely attend the 14th SAARC Summit being held in New Delhi in April in place of President Pervez Musharraf.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who arrived here today on a two-day official visit, clarified on his arrival at the Chaklala Airport that he was carrying an invitation for the Pakistan Prime Minister.

Earlier, it was believed that Mr Mukherjee would be carrying an invitation for President Musharraf.

A senior Pakistan Foreign Ministry official said it had already been decided that the invitation would be extended to Mr Aziz and not President Musharraf.

''There is no mischief in that,'' he added.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri said yesterday the President had already visited India and now it was the turn of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to come to Pakistan.

Mr Kasuri also said it would be more appropriate for President Musharraf to visit India after Dr Singh paid a return visit.

The Pakistan President had visited India in 2005. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is also proposed to visit Pakistan. However, the dates have not been decided yet.

UNI