PM likely to meet Zardari in NY, raise terrorism issue

New Delhi, Sept 19 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will raise with Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari the issue of terrorism and the necessity for a violence-free atmosphere to carry forward the Composite Dialogue Process, as the two leaders prepare to meet in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly (UNGA).

Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon, while briefing reporters on the upcoming visit of the Prime Minister to the US and France from September 22-30, said that besides addressing the UNGA, the Prime Minister is also likely to meet several world leaders including the Pakistan President and the Chinese Premier.

Details of the meetings, however, had not been worked out yet.

Asked what would be discussed at the meeting with Mr Zardari, the Foreign Secretary said ''India's only agenda with Pakistan is well known. It is out in the open...'' He said India had always stressed that for the dialogue to move forward, there was a need to demonstrate commitment against terrorism and creation of an atmosphere free from violence.

Asked about starting cross-Line of Control (LOC) trade, the Foreign Secretary said India and Pakistan would be holding technical-level talks in New Delhi on September 22 on starting a truck service across LOC. A Pakistani team of officials would arrive here for talks.

The two countries had exchanged lists of commodities and further details would be worked out on September 22.

India had also suggested reciprocal visits by business delegations from both sides but Pakistan had not resonded yet.

''We would like to start as soon as possible. We are ready to start it from October,'' he said.

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