Zardari, Manmohan may meet on sidelines on Turkmenistan summit in December

Islamabad, Nov 25 (ANI): Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari is expected to meet Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh next month on the sidelines of a summit in Turkmenistan, which both leaders will be attending on December 11.

According to sources, Zardari will attend the summit in which the heads of the governments of Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and India will also participate to discuss the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project, The Nation reported.

Taking opportunity of this summit, Zardari and Manmohan are expected to hold a sideline meeting, which may help resume stalled peace talks between India and Pakistan, it added.

According to sources, the President of Turkmenistan has already taken Pakistan into confidence over the security issue of this pipeline.

When contacted, an official from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Sources said on the condition of anonymity, "I don't think that Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India are finalising this project on December 11."

"They will discuss certain issues pertaining the project including security measure of gas pipeline," the official added. (ANI)