Pak working on backdoor channels to resolve issues with India: Gilani

Islamabad, Apr.27 (ANI): Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that Islamabad is making all efforts both through the diplomatic and backdoor channels to resolve all pending issues with New Delhi.

Interacting with media persons on board his special aircraft enroute to Thimpu, where he would be attending the 16th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) to be held on April 28 and 29, Gilani said all efforts are on resume the stalled deliberations with India to resolve various long pending issues, The Nation reports.

The two-day SAARC summit has attained much media attention, as it is being speculated that Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh may hold talks with his Pakistani counterpart on the sidelines of the conference.

Ambiguity persists over the meeting between both leaders, as none of the sides are ready to reveal anything over whether Dr. Singh and Gilani would hold talks or not.

Earlier, talking to newsmen before leaving for Thimpu, Gilani had said that as of now no meeting was planned.

He, however, added that he might meet several world leaders during his Bhutan stay.

On Monday, External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna, who is currently in Thimpu for the the SAARC ministerial meeting, had said that a bilateral meeting between both Prime Ministers could not be ruled out, adding that all issues would be discussed if they met.

"I am not ruling it out," was Krishna's reply when asked if a meeting would take place.

"Let's wait and watch, how things are going to work out. All bilateral issues between India and Pakistan will be discussed as and when the Prime Ministers meet," Krishna said.

Besides India and Pakistan, heads of states from countries like Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka would be attending the summit.

Representatives from the observer states would also be participating in the summit. (ANI)