Zardari, Manmohan to meet at UN session

Islamabad, Sep 11: Newly-elected Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari is likely to meet Pakistan Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh later this month in New York, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) session there. The exact date and time of the possible meeting would be worked out through diplomatic channels, even as sources suggested that it is expected to take place between September 24 and 26.

While Zardari is expected to address the UN session on September 25, Manmohan Singh will deliver his speech the following day. This would be the second high-level political contact between the two countries, after last month's meeting between the Indian and Pakistan prime ministers on the sidelines of the SAARC summit in Sri Lanka. Earlier, after Zardari was sworn in as 12th Pakistan President, the Indian Prime Minister had congratulated the former saying that the ushering in of democracy in Pakistan offered 'new opportunities to transform bilateral ties'.

"We have the political will to work with you to seize these opportunities and transform our relations. In your new office, you will find a friend in India," Singh had said.

According to the Daily Times, immediately after assuming the presidency, Zardari had told media persons that he would attend the UNGA and take up Pakistan's request to probe the killing of his wife and former premier Benazir Bhutto.

Zardari had also vowed to work with all neighbours to solve regional problems, and had said that there would be 'some good news' about efforts to resolve the Kashmir issue within the month.

ANI